🎅 Where to Take Photos with Santa in Winnipeg This Year (2025 Guide)
Tomorrow is December, which means the countdown is officially on in Winnipeg. If you haven’t already booked your annual Santa photo, now is the time to start planning your Santa photos in Winnipeg for this year’s holiday season.
If your kids are anything like ours, they’re already fine-tuning their wish lists, rewriting them three times, and circling toys in flyers like they’re gearing up for an exam. Meanwhile, the adults are staring down our very limited December weekends wondering how on earth we’ll fit everything in - concerts, skating, family events, shopping, wrapping… and of course, the Santa photo.
The good news? Winnipeg is absolutely packed with places to take photos with Santa in 2025. Whether you want a classic mall experience, a cozy greenhouse backdrop, a budget-friendly option, or a neighbourhood event close to home, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you.
Quick note: Details can change each year, so always double-check dates, hours, and pricing on the event website before you go.
🎄 Mall Santa Photos in Winnipeg (Open Daily Until December 23 or 24)
These are your reliable, beautifully staged locations offering daily Santa photos through December - perfect if you need flexibility with dates and times.
CF Polo Park
A timeless favourite for Santa photos in Winnipeg. CF Polo Park offers a classic holiday setup with twinkling lights and a polished backdrop, plus instant digital downloads so you can share your photos or print them quickly. Most visits are by reservation, and there are also designated sensory-friendly sessions.
Garden City Shopping Centre
Garden City features a picture-perfect Christmas tree farm-style backdrop that feels cozy and nostalgic - ideal for families who love that warm, traditional holiday look in their Santa pictures.
Grant Park Shopping Centre
Grant Park offers regular Santa photos plus two big bonuses:
Sensory-friendly Santa on December 7
Pet photos with Santa from December 7–14
It’s a great option if you have kiddos with sensory sensitivities or if your four-legged family members need some face time with the big guy too.
Kildonan Place
Kildonan Place usually leans into a more whimsical, imaginative display - think oversized toys, glowing decor, and a fun, interactive backdrop that keeps little ones entertained while you line up for Santa pictures in Winnipeg’s east end.
Outlet Collection Winnipeg
At Outlet Collection, you’ll often find Santa and Mrs. Claus together, which makes for extra-special photos and memories. Keep an eye out for special theme days and pet-friendly photo times as well.
St. Vital Centre
St. Vital Centre tends to go all-in on a storybook look with an enchanted forest theme and special storytime events sprinkled throughout the month. It’s a sweet option if you’re hoping for a more magical, fairy-tale feel in your annual Santa photo.
🎁 Other Great Spots to Visit Santa in Winnipeg
Looking for something outside the traditional mall setup? These locations offer unique experiences that can make your Winnipeg Santa photos feel a little more special.
The Queen Team Client Appreciation Event — December 14 🎅❤️
We had to mention our own! On December 14, we’re hosting our annual client appreciation event with:
Free movies
Concessions
Complimentary Santa photos
Goodie bags for the kids
If you’re a client and missed your invite, reach out - we never want anyone to feel overlooked. This one is our way of saying thank you and sharing a little extra holiday magic.
Cabela’s Winnipeg
Cabela’s is a fantastic budget-friendly option for Santa photos in Winnipeg. Families can enjoy free Santa photos and often get access to a digital version as well. Expect a more rustic, outdoorsy backdrop that’s perfect if your crew loves adventure.
IKEA Winnipeg
If your holiday errands already include a stop for meatballs, candles, or last-minute décor, IKEA Winnipeg makes it easy. They offer free Santa photos on weekends from December 6–21, no registration required - perfect if you want to combine photos, shopping, and lunch in one go.
Lacoste Garden Centre
Lacoste Garden Centre is a fan favourite for a reason. You’ll find Santa and Mrs. Claus surrounded by greenery, twinkling lights, and beautiful décor - a stunning backdrop for more elevated family photos. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the booking fee go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, so your Christmas photo doubles as a good deed.
Spots here tend to fill up quickly every year, but they often maintain a waitlist and cancellation list — worth joining if they appear sold out.
Shelmerdine Garden Centre
Shelmerdine’s also offers a gorgeous greenhouse backdrop with Santa and Mrs. Claus, surrounded by plants and festive décor. Sessions typically sell out fast and can be pricier than other options, but the finished photos tend to have that dreamy, editorial feel many families love.
Community Centres & Neighbourhood Santa Events
Don’t sleep on your local Winnipeg community centres - many of them host Santa events that feel wonderfully low-key and close to home. These pop-ups often include:
Free or low-cost Santa photos
Pancake breakfasts or hot chocolate
Holiday craft days
Skate-with-Santa events
Raffles, bake sales, or toy drives
Check your community centre’s Facebook page or website - Linden Woods, Tuxedo, Sage Creek, River Heights, St. Vital, Charleswood, St. James, Transcona and many other neighbourhoods often have at least one Santa event on the calendar.
You might also find special one-night events, like hospital foundation fundraisers or park celebrations, that include free Santa photos alongside fireworks, music, and family activities.
✨ The Magic of the Annual Santa Photo
No matter where you go - a big mall, a cozy garden centre, or a neighbourhood rink - these little outings have a way of bringing back that familiar holiday magic.
It’s in the way your child’s eyes widen when they first spot Santa.
It’s in the nervous shuffle up to the chair, the whispered wish list, and the relieved giggle when it’s all over.
And then later, it’s in you - scrolling through photos from years past and thinking, Oh my goodness, look how tiny they were.
That’s the quiet magic of annual Santa photos in Winnipeg: they become a time-stamp on your family’s story, year after year.
📸 Share Your Santa Photos with Us!
Got a Santa photo you adore - past or present? We’d love to see it.
One of our favourite parts of this season is watching how your families grow and change through the years. Those snapshots tell such beautiful stories.
👉 Send your photos to: hello@queenteam.ca
They truly make our day. ❤️
In the spirit of sharing, here is one of our faves:
And if you’re still sorting out holiday plans, moves, or big life transitions - and wondering how real estate fits into all of that - you know where to find us.
Have we missed a photo op with Santa? We would LOVE to add it! Email us the details at Hello@QueenTeam.ca.
OR
Want to be included in our next Newsletter where we share the regular updates of things to do in our community? This list was originally shared in our December 2025 newsletter! Email us Hello@QueenTeam.ca and we will be sure you never miss out again!