Santa Sessions 2026: The Story Behind the Sets

Sep 25

4 min read

Same Old Santa, Two Fresh New Sets for 2026

The best stories don’t come from a drawing board; they come from real life.

Every year, families ask why I go all out on custom, fully built studio sets instead of hanging up a simple backdrop, popping on a few lights, and calling it a day. The answer is simple: I build them because of a series of moments with our son that completely changed how I look at a Santa experience.

This year, we’ve built something unique and genuine. I'm beyond excited to officially reveal our two custom-designed environments for 2026! We built these spaces so your family never feels rushed, distracted, or like a number in line.

Join us in studio for a 5, 10, or 15-minute session

November 8, 14, & 15

10am-1pm

Sign up here!

Room 1: The Green Room

Our largest room this season is a chic, color-drenched living room wrapped in deep forest green with classic accents of gold, red, charcoal, and crisp white throughout.

The primary accent wall is strung with thick strands of heavy garland filled with red winter berries and gold bows, with stacks of elegant, wrapped gifts flanking Santa's main chair.

Framed between two large windows sits a detailed cabinet where Santa keeps his magical lists and gifts.

For the younger crowd (around 5 and under), we’ve integrated small ride-on toys in the corners—including a car, plane, and rocking moose. Seeing the kids' eyes light up when they jump aboard is magic on its own.

This room evokes warm, classical holiday vibes and is equally suited for cozy kids' visits with Santa or timeless family portraits without Santa.

Join us in studio for a 5, 10, or 15-minute session

November 8, 14, & 15

10am-1pm

Sign up here!

Room 2: Santa’s Shed

Step into Santa’s rustic, farmhouse-style shed. This scene is filled with lush winter greens and glowing lights from floor to ceiling, featuring vintage winter sports items, a workbench, and odds and ends around the shop.

Kids can sit down and have real conversations with Santa right in front of the barn doors.

If the conversation ever fades, there's always something hands-on to do: kids can help Santa hang the last remaining ornaments on the tree or ring Rudolph’s real sleigh bells hanging right on his stall door.

The Full Experience

At sign up, you can choose to share your child's name and age that will appear on Santa's Nice List. When all is said and done, every child leaves their session with a candy cane from Santa and a special sticker. Families booking our 15-minute packages will also receive a custom swag bag packed with curated goodies for both parents and kids!

Give A Gift

Santa sure knows what toys are trending and the elves are filling Santa's bag with the slow rising squishes! Each toy is 4"-5" and is wrapped in paper that matches the Green Room set. Make the experience magical when Santa reaches into his back to deliver a gift to each child. It is sure to be a genuine reaction of excitement! Each gift is sold separately and is delivered at random.

Beyond the Backdrop: The Real Story Behind Our 2026 Interactive Santa Sets

The Mall Santa Turning Point

When our son was little, taking him to see the Mall Santa for the first couple of years was simple enough—you dress them up, wait in line, get the quick photo, and head home. But everything changed the year he grew old enough to process the magic and really ask questions.

Bringing the Magic Home

The year he had a monologue ready for Santa, we decided to do things differently.

We were hanging out with friends when Santa suddenly burst through the door and interrupted the room. I had set up a special corner inside for Santa to bring the kids in close. Because our son was completely obsessed with trains—and because Santa had "received" all those pictures sent to the North Pole the year prior—Santa arrived with a special mission: delivering tickets to ride the Polar Express.

Watching my son's face in that moment was everything. I saw a look of genuine, awe-struck wonder. This time, there was no rush, no noisy crowd, and no pressure. He was able to talk, interact, and get every single thought out. Santa stayed just long enough for the kids to feel like they actually knew him.

I realized I wanted to recreate that exact feeling for other families: walking into a comfortable, immersive space that transports you into a moment that sets a true core memory.

The Evolution of the Set: From Reality to Fantasy

Over the years, we have designed and built countless scenes that bridge the line between reality and fantasy. Along the way, I learned a crucial lesson: the larger and more ambitious a scene gets, the more point-of-view details need to be absolute perfection. Kids notice everything.

To bring these massive visions to life, I collaborated with my former neighbor, Kristen from Kio Kreations. She is the creative genius responsible for taking my base builds and tying every single artistic element together seamlessly. Together, we’ve pushed our creative boundaries every single season and we both agree, this year is top notch!