Turn your photo from Santa HQ into a fun keepsake with a free printable Santa photo frame.
This post is sponsored by Santa HQ. All opinions are my own.
What's your favorite Santa photo? Mine has to be from my twins' first Christmas, when they were just 5 months old and Santa held them both while they smiled at the camera. We went through a year (or two) with grumpy toddler faces but my now 6 year olds are thrilled at the thought of visiting with Santa and having their annual photo taken.
Santa photos are the ultimate Christmas keepsake, and this year we are starting a new tradition to preserve all our memories of our Santa visit. And we are making the most of our Santa visit by heading to HGTV's Santa HQ.
Making Holiday Memories at Santa HQ
If you think visiting Santa is just a chance to have your photo taken and tell him what you want for Christmas then you have never been to Santa HQ. HGTV's Santa HQ is not just a photo op: it's an interactive holiday experience for the entire family.
Using state of the art digital technology, Santa HQ takes your family on a series of fun adventures that might make you think you've stepped right into Santa command central. My kids loved it! Let's take a peek through some of the fun stops on your way to see Santa himself.
We started by checking out the Naughty and Nice lists, and my boys each took a chance stepping on the "Naughty and Nice Meters" to find out which list they were on (they both were nice, of course).
Then we headed to the new Elf Academy, where your kids can become part of Santa's team of helpers. Elf Academy includes lots of super fun activities like The Magic Mirror, where you can be transformed into an elf and virtually try on different outfits.
You can also create your own Elf ID card using the Elf-ID app and a selfie, or star in your own Elfie Selfie video.
I think my boys' favorite part of Santa HQ (besides seeing the man himself) was trying out the Elf Ray Vision. This is a super cool part of Santa's Observatory where you can catch glimpses of Santa's elves at work when you point a tablet or phone at locations throughout the room. They had a blast and the technology was so cool it looked like they were actually inside the workshop.
But of course, the highlight of our visit was seeing Santa Claus.
Santa HQ offers the traditional Santa visit and photo opportunities, with lots of photo packages to choose from. You also can get all of your photos as digital downloads to use on gifts, cards, and more!
Know Before You Go
- Santa HQ has 15 locations throughout the US. Find the one closest to you here.
- Save time waiting in line by making an online reservation. You can prepay for your photos and even get text reminders of your reservation. Reserve your time here.
- Bring a toy to donate. Santa HQ is a collection point for HGTV's Help Through Holiday Giving Drive. They are accepting new, unwrapped toys to benefit local organizations like Toys for Tots, Forgotten Angel Tree and more.
- Grab my free printable Santa photo frame to make your Santa picture even more special! Keep reading to see how.
Free Printable Santa Photo Frame to Color
I've saved all my kids' Santa photos and this year we are starting a new fun tradition by adding a printable Santa photo frame that they can color!
This free printable is sized to fit your 5x7 photo from Santa HQ, and can be placed in an 8x10 or 8.5x11 frame. Or you can add it to your memory book or scrapbook!
Your kids can customize the frame by coloring it in and they can capture the memory of their Santa visit by writing in their age and what they told Santa. This makes it a super fun keepsake that you'll treasure.
You can get your free printable Santa photo frame by clicking on the button below.
FREE
Be sure to head to Santa HQ for all the fun and to get your perfect Santa photo. Click here for locations and check out the video below for more details!
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