Santa is now on his way to Melbourne shopping centres
Breakdancing Santa, pet-loving Santa, Santa and Mrs Claus — the man with the bag hits Melbourne shopping centres in many guises this festive season. Here’s a list of when and where Santa is appearing.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and with Santa Claus coming to town, we’ve compiled a list of when and where the jolly man with the bag will be appearing at Melbourne shopping centres, what he’ll be doing, and the special guests along for the ride.
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GREENSBOROUGH PLAZA
Santa will be at Greensborough Plaza every day until Christmas Eve at Centre Court, The Village Green (Level 1). Photos start from $20.
There will be after-hours Santa photo opportunities for kids with special needs, with a wheelchair accessible set-up, and no queues, spotlights or background music, between 6-8pm from November 19-26.
Bookings are required for ‘quiet time’ photos with Santa.
Pets can also get photos with St Nick on November 20, 21, 27 and 28, from 6-9pm. Photos start from $9. Bookings required.
Bookings for pet or quiet time photos: 9435 4000 or greensboroughplaza.com.au
DANDENONG PLAZA
Don’t miss Kris Kringle’s official arrival at Dandenong Plaza on November 25, from 11am-2pm on level 2 near Daiso.
Santa, Mrs Claus and Rudolph will lead lots of free festive activities for kids, such as music, crafts, face painting, balloon animals and more.
Kids can snap selfies with Santa from December 10-24 (BYO camera or smartphone).
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The centre will have ‘Sensitive santa’ sessions for kids with special needs. Bookings: 9767 2000.
Christmas gift wrapping for a gold coin donation to the Salvation Army will be available from December 10-24.
Details: armadadandenongplaza.com.au
WESTFIELD PLENTY VALLEY
Santa will be at the South Morang shopping centre until November 24 (see website for times and bookings). You can also have your furbabies – only dogs, cats and rabbits allowed – photographed with St Nick, during pet photo times from November 15-December 14.
Details: 9437 4201 or go to westfield.com.au/plentyvalley
SOUTHLAND
To mark the November 29 opening of The Grinch. the grumpy green character will accompany Santa and Mrs Claus at a special Santa’s Breakfast. Little ones will be treated to a mini hot breakfast and a drink from The Groove Train, sweet treats, a special gift and breakdancing Santas. This event will be on November 17, session times 7-7.45am, 8-8.45am, 9-9.45am, level 2 outside Village Cinema. Cost is $10 + booking fee. Bookings strictly required.
Photos with Santa will be available at Centre Court, level 1 until Christmas Eve with a variety of photo packages available and kids will receive a cute reindeer or elf headband. Sensory Santa pictures for kids with special needs are available between 7-9am on November 24 and December 1. Bookings: sthmarketing@scentregroup.com or at the centre.
Pet photos available between 6-9pm on selected dates until November 29.
Details: westfield.com.au/southland
CHADSTONE
Chadstone’s Christmas festival kicks off tomorrow, November 15, with the Shop ‘Til You Drop event from 8am-11pm. Santa’s arrival parade begins at 10.30am with Mrs Claus, elves and other characters from Chadstone’s Christmas show.
The fashion capital will transform into a Winter Wonderland with an immersive ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas installation with talking reindeer, snow falling on the hour and a giant 11.5 metre tree.
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Go online to book your photo time with jolly old St Nick between November 15 and Christmas Eve.
You can book Sensitive Santa photo times before the centre opens between November 16 and December 6.
Bookings: chadstone.com.au
NORTHLAND
Check out the Woodland Wonderland in the Dome below Hoyts at Northland, and Santa photo times are available up until 4pm on December 24.
There are also selected dates and times for pet photography with St Nick (small to medium household pets only, owners must be present and animals on a leash or come with an animal carrier).
Sensitive Santa photos for kids with special needs can be booked daily 8-9am from November 18-23 and November 26-30.
Details, prices, bookings: northlandsc.com.au
BAYSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE
Santa is coming to Frankston on November 24. Meet Mr Claus at the Shannon Mall entrance at 10am for giveaways and prizes, and join him as he leads his grand parade through the centre to his magical gingerbread house on level 1 outside Target.
The fun continues until 5pm with food tastings, roaming balloon artists, raffles, crafts, face painting and more.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Santa will be available for photos daily from November 24-December 24. You can also book pet photography times on selected dates between November 26-December 12 and Sensitive Santa photos between 7-9am on December 1 and December 8.
Bookings: baysidesc.com.au
PACIFIC WERRIBEE
Kris Kringle will make his grand arrival at Pacific Werribee on November 18 with a parade from 11am, starting at Urban Diner. Follow him as he roams throughout the shopping centre, joined by his Christmas carnival friends including magical stilt walkers, contortionists, jugglers and acrobats.
Later on there will be a Christmas Craft Workshop outside Cotton On from noon-3pm, and face painting near Swarovski from noon-3pm.
But if you miss the grand parade, you can still get your Santa photos with daily sessions from November 18-December 24. Bookings are essential for Sensitive Santa times, available 8-10am on November 25, 8-10am on December 2 and 9-10am on December 9.
Bookings: 9749 5111. Details: pacificwerribee.com.au
EASTLAND
Want to keep your little elves busy while you tackle the Christmas shopping? The kids will be entertained at Santa’s Workshop, level 1 near Minimax, making their own wreath and decorations to take home. Session times run until December 23.
You can get your festive snaps with Kris Kringle in Santa’s Enchanted Forest, level 1 in the Central Mall near Commonwealth Bank, every day until Christmas Eve. There are Sensitive Santa times every Wednesday and Saturday from 8-9am between November 14 and December 12. On Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights your pets can get a Santa photo in The Atrium, Town Square. Bookings required.
Details, bookings: eastland.com.au
HIGHPOINT
Have a festive feast with Santa, Mrs Claus, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph for a yummy pancake breakfast and lots of Christmas cheer on November 17 with sessions at 8am, 9am and 10am. Tickets are $15 each. Bookings required at Eventbrite.com.
Have yourself a merry little photo with the man in red, with photography sessions until Christmas Eve. Sensitive Santa times are available outside centre opening hours on Sundays and Mondays between November 18 and December 10. Pet photography times are also on offer.
Bookings: highpoint.com.au
CHIRNSIDE PARK
There’s loads of Christmas cheer at Chirnside Park in the lead up to the big day. You can register the kids for a free Toy Workshop on November 23-24, with cupcake decorating, story time with Mrs Claus, face painting and festive photos.
Photos with Santa are available daily until Christmas Eve and pet photography is available outside centre hours on select dates until November 28. Local families can also enter the draw for an unforgettable visit from Santa – bearing gifts – to your own home.
Bookings: chirnsidepark.com.au
WESTFIELD DONCASTER
Naughty kids need not apply, with Santa photography happening in Centre Court every day until December 24.Walk-ins are welcome but online booking is encouraged to avoid the queues. There’s a variety of photo packages available.
Sensory-friendly Santa photography will be available between 9-10am on November 18 and November 25. Your furry friend can also get a Santa snapshot with sessions on Thursdays and Fridays between November 15 and November 30.
Bookings essential. Details: westfield.com.au/doncaster
FOUNTAIN GATE
Have a special breakfast with Santa, Mrs Claus and some of your favourite Sesame Street characters. Little ones will be treated to a hot breakfast and drink from the Pancake Parlour, plus get some festive entertainment and a special Christmas gift. There are sessions from 8am and 9am on Saturdays and Sundays between November 17 and 25. Cost is $10 + booking fee. Bookings essential.
Santa photography is available until December 24 with a range of photo packages on offer (smartphones and personal cameras not permitted). Sensitive Santa will be at the centre in the mornings of Saturdays and Sundays between December 1 and December 9, and pet photos from 7-9pm on Thursdays and Fridays until December 14.
Bookings essential: westfield.com.au/fountaingate
FOREST HILL CHASE
The man in red will regale some of his favourite Christmas tales at Story time with Santa sessions daily until December 19. Bookings are not required for story time.
Paw Patrol fans can meet Chase and Marshall for a breakfast with Santa on November 18. There are breakfast sessions at 8am and 9am, with limited tickets for each session. Cost is $10 and breakfast packs include a mini savoury muffin, a mini sweet muffin and a fruit pop-top drink. Proceeds will go to Foodbank Victoria. Only one parent/minder seat will be allocated for each child. Book here.
There are also Santa photo sessions, sensitive Santa and pet photography times available. Bookings, details: foresthillchase.com.au
QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET
The weather outside may be delightful, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ice skate in summer. A pop-up outdoor ice skating rink, open December 1-24, will be the heart of festive celebrations at Queen Victoria Market. For skating times and prices visit qvm.com.au/christmas
Sleigh bells will ring on December 22-23 when Santa arrives at the market to share some festive cheer. Children will be able to send their wishlists to the North Pole via a mailbox in C Shed from December 1, and Santa promises to reply to all letters.
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