Short answer: In Surrey, Santa photos run at Guildford Town Centre (listed for November 14 – December 24, Centre Court North, lower level), Central City, Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in White Rock and nearby Willowbrook in Langley — almost all malls now require an online booking, and 2026 slots usually open in early to mid November. The only free professional Santa photo nearby is Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops, Tsawwassen Mills — every family gets a free 4×6 print with a free online reservation. For a free Santa photo, go to the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival (November 21–22, 2026, Surrey Civic Plaza); for one included with admission, Santa’s Castle at Noel with Bright Nights at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds (Nov 27 – Dec 29, children 6 and under free). If you want a photo you’ll actually frame, a private Christmas mini session with a local photographer costs about $275–$450 and should be booked by October.
Most malls publish their exact Santa schedule only in November. Where 2026 details are not out yet, this guide shows the most recent season’s dates so you know roughly what to expect — confirm with the mall before you go. We’ll update this page as 2026 schedules are announced.
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Santa photos in Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta
| Location | City | Santa’s dates | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guildford Town Centre | Surrey | Nov 14 – Dec 24 (as listed by the photo operator; Centre Court North, lower level) | Book online → Walk-ups welcome |
| Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops, Tsawwassen Mills — free 4×6 photo | Tsawwassen | 2026: Santa arrives Nov 7 (2025 ran Nov 8 – Dec 24) — usually the earliest Santa in the region | Reserve free → Walk-ins welcome; booking recommended |
| Central City Shopping Centre | Surrey | 2025: mid-November through Dec 24 | Mall events page → |
| Semiahmoo Shopping Centre | White Rock / South Surrey | 2025: Nov 22 – Dec 24 | Mall events page → |
| Willowbrook Shopping Centre | Langley | 2025: mid-to-late November – Dec 24 (between Guest Services and the Food Court) | Book online → Walk-ups welcome |
| Scottsdale Centre | North Delta | 2025: Nov 27 – Dec 24 | Book online → |
| Surrey Tree Lighting Festival — free | Surrey Civic Plaza | Nov 21–22, 2026, noon–8pm | No booking — photo on your own phone (details below) |
| Noel with Bright Nights (Santa’s Castle) | Cloverdale Fairgrounds | Nov 27 – Dec 29, 2026 | Included with admission; under 6 free (details below) |
Mall booking pages usually go live one to two weeks before Santa arrives. If a link still shows last year’s dates, check back in early November.
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Santa photos across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
| Location | City | Most recent season | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolis at Metrotown (Grand Court) | Burnaby | Nov 12 – Dec 23; proceeds to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau | Book online → |
| Brentwood | Burnaby | Nov 19 – Dec 24 | Book online → |
| Lougheed Shopping Centre | Burnaby | Nov 21 – Dec 24 | Book online → |
| Richmond Centre | Richmond | Nov 14 – Dec 23 | Check mall site |
| Lansdowne Centre | Richmond | Nov 15 – Dec 24 | Check mall site |
| Coquitlam Centre | Coquitlam | Nov 19 – Dec 24 | Check mall site |
| Royal City Centre | New Westminster | Dec 4 – Dec 24 | Check mall site |
| Park Royal / Capilano Mall | West & North Vancouver | Nov 19 – Dec 24 | Book Park Royal → |
| Valley Fair Mall | Maple Ridge | Nov 27 – Dec 24 | Check mall site |
| Highstreet / Sevenoaks | Abbotsford | Nov 21 / Nov 16 – Dec 24 | Check mall site |
Most mall Santas take their last photos on December 23 or 24, and the final two weekends before Christmas are the first slots to sell out.
Free and included-with-admission Santa photos
Surrey Tree Lighting Festival — free
The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival runs November 21–22, 2026, from noon to 8pm at Surrey Civic Plaza, and is free. In 2025 families could meet Santa there and an elf took the photo on your own phone at no charge. Lines grow through the afternoon; arrive near noon.
Noel with Bright Nights, Cloverdale — included with admission
The Noel Holiday Light Festival with Bright Nights runs November 27 – December 29, 2026 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Tickets are about $17–$25, children 6 and under are free, and parking is free. In 2025, Santa photos in Santa’s Castle were included with admission or by donation. It is closed November 30, December 7, December 24 and December 25.
Other Santa experiences
- Glow Langley (Nov 19 – Jan 2; closed Sundays and Dec 25) — Santa is on site nightly until December 24, included with your ticket.
- The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain — Santa’s workshop photos, included with Mountain Admission, late November to December 24.
- Steveston Village, Richmond — Santa has toured the village by horse and carriage in past seasons; free to watch.
- Kids Market at Granville Island — storytime and visits with Santa in December.
Full details on every light display, including which suit which age, are in Christmas Lights in Metro Vancouver With Kids.
When to book Santa photos in 2026
- Early November: watch your mall’s website and social media — booking links usually go live one to two weeks before Santa arrives.
- Book the first week you can. Weekend slots in December fill first; weekday mornings stay open longest.
- Want the photo on your Christmas card? Go in the first week Santa is there (mid-November) so you have time to print.
- Last-minute: the free Tree Lighting Festival (Nov 21–22) and the included-with-admission options above don’t need a mall booking.
How to get a good Santa photo with a baby or toddler
- Book right after a nap and a snack. Late morning is usually best for under-3s.
- Book a weekday. Shorter waits, calmer set, and the photographers have more time.
- Talk about Santa first. Show pictures, read a Santa book, and let your child watch another family go first.
- Ask for a parent-in-the-photo shot for anxious toddlers — sitting on your lap next to Santa is still a Santa photo.
- Have a plan for tears. A crying-with-Santa photo is a classic; don’t force it twice.
- Sensory needs: ask the operator whether they offer a quieter time slot or an early, before-the-mall-opens session.
Private Santa and Christmas photo sessions
A mall photo is quick; a studio or outdoor Christmas session gives you real portraits. Christmas mini sessions in Metro Vancouver typically cost about $275–$450 for 15–20 minutes and five edited images, and the popular ones open bookings in August–September and sell out by October. Some photographers run Santa sets in their studio.
Photographers listed on KidsServiceHub who photograph families and children in Surrey and the Lower Mainland:
- Gemini Visuals Photography — South Surrey studio that has run holiday mini sessions in November (pets welcome in past years).
- Dia Photo Studio — newborn, family and event photography.
- Lux Portraits by Pavan
- Kari Lynn Photography
- The.CozyClicks Photography
- Heartfully Captured by V
- Aleece Lesniak Photography
- Courtney Conder Photography
- Ruby Brar Photography
Prices, booking windows and questions to ask are in Fall & Holiday Mini Photo Sessions in Surrey, and every photographer is in our photographers directory.
Want Santa at your party?
For a Christmas party at home, character entertainers such as Sunshine and Songs, MagicLand for Kids and Edgycrave Entertainment can be asked whether they offer a Santa, elf or winter-character visit. Book December dates by October. Add festive balloons from Blush Dream Decor or VanCity Decor Villa, face painting from Gallant Face Painting Plus, and Christmas cookies from Sweet Swallow Art or My Cookie Addiction.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get Santa photos in Surrey in 2026?
Guildford Town Centre (listed for November 14 to December 24, Centre Court North, lower level), Central City Shopping Centre and Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in White Rock all host mall Santas, and Willowbrook in Langley is close by. The free option is the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival on November 21–22, 2026, and Noel with Bright Nights at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds includes Santa photos with admission.
Are there free Santa photos in Surrey?
Yes. At the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival (November 21–22, 2026, Surrey Civic Plaza, free) families in 2025 met Santa and had the photo taken on their own phone for free. Noel with Bright Nights in Cloverdale included Santa photos with admission or by donation, and children 6 and under get in free. Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops in Tsawwassen Mills, a short drive from Surrey, gives every family a free 4×6 photo; reserve a free time slot online; Santa arrives November 7, 2026.
Do I need to book Santa photos at the mall?
Almost always. Most Metro Vancouver malls now use online time-slot booking, with links going live one to two weeks before Santa arrives in November. Weekend slots in December sell out first.
When does Santa arrive at malls in Metro Vancouver?
Most mall Santas arrive between mid and late November and stay until December 23 or 24. Tsawwassen Mills is usually earliest (November 8 in 2025) and Royal City Centre in New Westminster latest (December 4 in 2025).
What’s the best time for a toddler’s Santa photo?
A weekday, late morning, right after a nap and a snack. Let your child watch another family first, and it is fine to be in the photo with them.
How much does a Christmas mini photo session cost in Metro Vancouver?
Typically $275–$450 for a 15–20 minute session with about five edited images; longer sessions run $450–$550. Popular photographers open bookings in August or September.
Related guides
- Christmas Lights in Metro Vancouver With Kids (2026)
- Christmas & Winter Break With Kids in Metro Vancouver (2026)
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids in Metro Vancouver (2026)
- Fall & Holiday Mini Photo Sessions in Surrey, BC
- The Best Kids & Family Photographers in Surrey, BC
Last updated: October 24, 2026. Most malls announce 2026 Santa schedules in November; dates marked 2025 or “most recent season” are for reference until then.
