If you’re banking on getting some free photos with Santa this holiday season, make sure you visit Bass Pro Shops (or their sister store, Cabela's) between Nov. 2 and Christmas Eve. Plus, Bass Pro has announced a variety of freebies in-store, starting with their free event on Nov. 1 (just add it to your lineup of kids' free crafting events and free Lego builds).
Before taking your kid to see Santa at Bass Pro or Cabela's in 2025, we highly recommend you book an appointment (bookings are open now).
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Bass Pro is doing a free Santa's Arrival event Nov. 1 with free plushie giveaway, in addition to the free photos.
Here's the lineup:
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Nov. 1 (5 p.m.): Santa's arrival in-store event. No photos yet, but your kid can watch the tree lighting, get seasonal treats, see Santa arrive at the store, and get a free bass plushie, while supplies last.
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Nov. 2: Free photos with Santa begin.
Just like other Santa experiences, you’ll only get about two minutes to chat with the Bass Pro Santa, or the Cabela's Santa, before the photographer snaps your picture. So it's more of a quick visit than a sit-down photoshoot.
But each family who participates (they allow up to eight people per family) will get to take home one free 4x6 photo, plus a shareable emailed video. You can also request that they use your own camera or phone to snap the picture.
Bass Pro Santa photos will be offered Nov. 2 - Dec. 24, 2025.
Reservations are now open on their booking website. Advance reservations are always recommended for Bass Pro Santa photos, and time slots are usually offered about every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. - 7:45 p.m., but check their website for current availability at your store.
Reservations are highly recommended, and they open up seven days in advance.
You can make your photo appointment in just a few steps on the Bass Pro Shops website. If the booking site isn't available yet, watch for it to open up seven days before Nov. 2. Availability and time slots may vary by your location, though.
Appointment time slots generally go like this (but may vary by store):
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Morning slots: Every 15 minutes, 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
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Afternoon slots: Every 15 minutes, 12:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
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Evening slots: Every 15 minutes, 6 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
You can try booking on the day of your visit, but just know that spots fill up quickly, especially as we get closer to the holiday.
Each family gets one free 4x6 print and a shareable video, but the digital file will cost you an extra $20 or more.
The Bass Pro Santa Photo experience comes with one free 4x6 print, plus a shareable video that gets sent to your email. But you’ll have to pay extra if you want a high-resolution digital photo or other print sizes.
Bass Pro Santa Photo Packages (2025 Pricing):
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Digital Download (includes 4x6 cards, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image), $20
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Christmas Card Package (includes 4x6 cards, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image), $25
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Jingle Bells Package (includes eight prints of various sizes, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image), $25
Take photos with your own camera or phone to avoid the digital file fee.
I definitely recommend using your own camera to get the digital file for free. Then you can print copies yourself for much less using our roundup of the latest photo deals from retailers like CVS or Walgreens.
Visit Santa on a weekday to avoid the heaviest crowds and get craft freebies.
You’ll skip the crowds and have more room to roam if you make your Bass Pro Santa Photo reservation on a weekday instead of during the weekend.
Plus, Monday through Friday (Nov. 3 - Dec. 24), kids can get these freebies in-store:
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Nov. 3 - 21 : Wooden ornament craft
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Nov. 24. - Dec. 5: Color-in picture frame
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Dec. 8 - 24: Shrink art
KCL TIP: Kids can drop off a letter for Santa in his special mailbox at all Bass Pro Shops locations. If you include an email address with your letter, you'll get a free note back from Santa.
Bring your dog along for Santa photos — most Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations are pet-friendly.
The majority of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s locations will allow dogs and even cats in stores year-round, 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 Bass Pro Santa photo.
As of October 2025, the only two Bass Pro Shops locations that don’t allow pets are in Dania Beach, Florida, and Mesa, Arizona.
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