Last year, I had an opportunity to take Joy to visit Santa at several different locations. However, the one that stuck out the most her visit to The Santa HQ presented by HGTV. It’s an immersive Santa photo experience, that takes your child on a magical tour of Santa Headquarters in the North Pole. After experience this interactive activity with my daughter, I decided I wanted to make it a new family tradition.
DISCLOSURE: THIS STORY IS SPONSORED BY SANTA HQ PRESENTED BY HGTV; ALL THOUGHTS ARE BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
During the Thanks Giving weekend, I told Joy, we were going to visit Santa this year. Her response was “Will we get to go to the North pole again?” Although there are several opportunities throughout the city to take pictures with Santa. The Santa HQ is a visit with Saint Nick that your child will remember for years to come.
Our journey to the North Pole began the moment we check into the Santa HQ located at Los Cerritos Center Cerritos, CA. First, Santa’s helpers entered Joy’s name into the system to run her name through the Naughty or Nice meter. As she stood on the meter she danced with confidence knowing she made the list again this year. (*Don’t worry your child name will always appear on the nice list.)
Next, tried on the latest elf fashions as Santa’s Magic Mirror. This is a new activity at Santa HQ that I thought was a nice addition. ( The Santa’s Magic Mirror also allows little one to customize their own sharable Elf ID Card. However, it wasn’t available at not available at our location so we didn’t get to try it out. (* Not available at Flatiron Crossing or Los Cerritos Center).
Once she finished styling her Elf, we journeyed into Santa workshop where we used ELF-RAY Vision and joined Santa HQ’s most-entertaining elves Jack, Strawberry, on a newly-enhanced journey throughout Santa HQ! Where we went discovered the secret, inner-workings of Santa toy operation.
Before, entering the area to take our holiday photos. Joy hopped on Santa’s control center where she tested out her flying skills and took Santa’s sleigh out for a test drive.
Then she went on to take a photo against a backdrop of the North Pole and went on to her photo with Santa. Where she was able to speak with him without being interrupted by other visitors. I’ve been blessed to take Joy to visit Santa at other location and I’ve always felt like we’ve had to compete for our time with him. However, Santa’s HQ has strategically placed the visit with Santa at the end in a way that each visitor gets to have their only time, making each visit memorable.
I like how all of the activities are organized and although the set-up is located at the center of the mall as we enter the doors of Santa HQ, you feel like you are the gates of the North Pole. It’s an interactive experience that I plan on doing with Joy and my grandkid’s for years to come. I highly recommend making reservations ahead of time so that you aren’t spending hours waiting in line.
(Click here to find a location near you and to make your reservations. )
In the Holiday Spirit of Giving
Visitors to Santa HQ will also be able to enjoy the holiday spirit of giving through HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving Drive. The program encourages visitors to donate new, unwrapped toys for local children in need with the goal of collecting over 1,000 toys per center. In 2017, HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving program collected over 66,000 toys benefiting local organizations like Forgotten Angel Tree, Salvation Army Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, and Spark of Love Stuff a Bus
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