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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post brought to you by HGTV, SantaHQ and ReachOrb – All Thoughts and opinions are my own
Santa HQ At Washington Square Mall
Are you looking for the most magical Santa experience for kids both big and small. Even if you are just a kid at heart you will get all the warm and fuzzy feelings of being a kid once you walk through that arch. At Santa HQ, your children will be immersed with fun activities to take them on a journey like no other through Santa’s workshop…. and it is totally free. This is our third year visiting Santa HQ and we would never think of having any other Santa experience. There are so many awesome activities along the way. You can use your smartphone to gain access to “Elf-Ray Vision” along the way or you can use one of the provided tablets, from one of Santa’s elf’s. along the way, through all the activities, everything your children creates can be emailed to you so that you’ll have the memories.
Of course, you have to find out if the kids have been good before seeing Santa. This brings us to the Naughty or Nice O’Meter. It’s fun to watch your kids’ faces as they wait for the results waver up and down between naughty and nice. Which makes a parent wonder what they’ve gotten into that you don’t know about for them to be so worried. However, we have had another successful year of all the boys making the NICE LIST.
Once they have gotten the green light, it is time to make their way through Elf Academy where your children will have tons of fun creating personalized Elf ID Cards that can be emailed to you or a family member . Your kids will love being able to look through all the fun elf fashion and choosing an outfit as they “turn” themselves into an Elf with the Elf Magic Mirror. Next, it’s off to enjoy Elf-Ray Vision in Santa’s Control room observatory where they can check on conditions and get satellite guidance to help Santa’s fly his sleigh. With your smartphone or a provided tablet, your kids can use the app to follow the elves all through the “line”.
We all probably have a memory of going to see Santa as a young child. Chances are you even remember the long line and looking around the line of people several times to see how much closer you’d gotten. As a parent, you’re not thrilled about the idea of standing in line waiting to see the Big Guy. There’s also a chance that your kids are not interested in standing in a long line. But what if the line was part of the experience? And, no. I’m not talking about the weird kid talking about his love of Wizard the Oz standing in front of you like in A Christmas Story. I’m talking about a REAL experience. PLUS, if you are not a fan of waiting your turn or are short on time, you can actually reserves your visit. That;s right, you can head on over to Santa-HQ.com and book a VIP style visit.
Last, but not least, it’s time to meet Santa and get those great photos. Santa HQ, knows all about magic and with that, Santa must be “magic”, from his beard to his twinkle in his eye, Santa is warm and welcoming to all. With such a personal feeling and experience , Santa HQ feels more like a one-on-one experience than what you find in other malls.
Reserve your Santa HQ Visit
If that’s not enough magic for you, you can check out once of their special events.
- Sensory Santa: This sensory-friendly holiday event at Valley River Center allows families with all spectrums of special needs to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit with Santa, in a comforting environment prior to public hours. Accommodations are made to support the sensory, physical, and developmental needs of this special audience.
- Yappy Hour: Special event for you and your furry friend to get time with the “Big Guy.” Bring your dog or cat to participating centers for an exciting night of pet photos, cocktails and holiday cheer.
- Meet Santa’s Elves: Have fun with Jack & Strawberry, the official elves of Santa HQ. Kick-off the holiday festivities and enjoy caroling, photo opportunities, storytime, hot chocolate and much more.
Events, dates, and times are specific to each Santa HQ center. Check with your center for more details.
Santa HQ is presented at 15 of Macerich’s properties across the country, including: California, Arizona, Chicago, Metro New York, and the Washington, D.C. corridor.
a. It’s important that you make reservations, especially for special events. This is a popular event among both children and adults. Not only does it take the stress out of getting to see Santa, but it’s a magical experience that everyone enjoys.