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At Christmastime, it’s safe to say that Bass Pro Shops takes it to the next level. With decorations, free family photos, giveaways, kids’ activities, and a Bass Pro Santa, it’s a nice way to get into the holiday mood without hurting your wallet.
If you’re looking to get some free photos with Santa this holiday season, don’t miss out on Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops. The event takes place at all locations starting on Nov. 5, 2022, and includes fun activities for kids, plenty of photo ops, and some freebies, too.
We’ll explain everything you need to know about Bass Pro Shops’ Santa’s Wonderland this year.
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You can take a photo with the Bass Pro Santa from Nov. 5 to Christmas Eve.
Head into Bass Pro Shops stores on the kickoff day (Nov. 5, 2022) for a parade and tailgating party to welcome in Santa. The kickoff event also included freebies and giveaways. If you visit any day after that, Santa will still be there, and they’ll have free games, rides, and a toy area. The amenities may vary by location, but each store will have something festive going on throughout the season until the last day, Dec. 24.
Each family gets one free 4×6 photo plus an emailed video.
Every family that stops in for photos with Santa at Bass Pro Shops’ Wonderland will receive one free, studio-quality 4×6 printed photo and a free video that they’ll email to you. Reservations are not required, but they’re encouraged if you don’t want to miss out.
In typical sit-down-with-Santa style, guests will only get a few moments to chat with Santa, and the photographer will snap their picture. Make sure you come prepared, as it’s more of a quick visit than a sit-down photoshoot. Whether your kids love Santa or have an instant meltdown, you’ll end up with a keepsake to love (or laugh over) later.
You can make your photo appointments on the Bass Pro Shops website. Appointment availability may vary by location.
Related: Like freebies? We found 30 free things you can almost always get your hands on.
Book your appointment up to a week in advance starting Oct. 29.
To ensure you get a photo with the man in red, you’ll want to log on to the Bass Pro Shops website as soon as appointments open up for the week that follows. Appointments open up a week in advance, and you can only make one booking per family (with a maximum of eight people per family).
While appointments aren’t required, you’ll definitely want one if you’re planning to visit on a busy weekend. You can try booking the day of your visit, but spots will fill up quickly!
Related: Outfits, check! Here are the best ugly Christmas sweaters we found online (plus Hanukkah sweaters, too!).
You can purchase additional photos for $15 – $25.
If you’d like more than your one free printed 4×6 Santa photo from Bass Pro, you can order additional photo packages. If you need a digital version of your photo to print at home or post to social media, you’ll need to purchase the digital download package for $15.
These packages will be available during Bass Pro Shops’ Santa’s Wonderland event:
- Digital Download – $15
- Christmas Card Package – $20
- (8) 4×6 greeting cards
- Jingle Bell Package – $25
- Digital download
- Two 6×8 prints
- Two 5×7 prints
- Two 4×6 prints
- Four wallet prints
Related: Get family photos printed on the cheap with our Shutterfly hacks.
Plan to visit Santa’s Wonderland on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
If possible, you’ll skip the crowds and have more room to roam if you can snag a photo appointment with Santa during the week.
Since Bass Pro Shops has a lot of other regular fun amenities for the kids, including a rock wall, fish tank, and lots to see around the store, plan at least an hour and a half to two hours for your visit.
While hanging out in Santa’s Wonderland, kids can send letters to Santa, play some holiday games, and may even get some freebies (though giveaways vary by location).
Bring your dog along for Santa photos — most Bass Pro Shops are pet-friendly.
Bass Pro Shops allows dogs (and cats!) year-round in stores, except where local laws or shopping centers prohibit it. As long as your local store allows it — and your furry friend is on Santa’s Nice List — bring ’em along for a photo on Santa’s lap!
As of this writing in 2022, here are the only Bass Pro Shops locations that don’t allow pets:
- Dania Beach, Florida
- Columbus, Missouri
- Mesa, Arizona
- San Jose, California
Of course, if your pet appears on the Naughty List or gets stressed out by strangers or other animals, we recommend you stage your holiday photoshoot at home.
Related: You can bring your dog along to any of these pet-friendly stores.
