Plenty of families will see "Santa arrives November 7" and pick the following Tuesday for photos, when the line should be short. On the 2026 schedule, that Tuesday is a closed day.
Simon's posted schedule for the Santa Photo Experience at Mall of Georgia lists Santa from Saturday, November 7 through December 24. Inside that window, the hours change almost weekly, the set closes on five separate days, and Sundays keep the shortest hours of any regular day all season. Three dates pair the photo set with a separate holiday event at the mall, and those dates are the easiest ones to plan around. For Sugarloaf Country Club households, Mall of Georgia is one of the closest big holiday destinations.
Opening Weekend, Then a Pause
Santa's first weekend runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8. The set is then closed Monday, November 9 through Thursday, November 12, and reopens Friday, November 13 at 11 a.m.
That break matters most to families aiming for an early, low-pressure visit. A weekday photo in the first week of the season isn't an option this year, so the earliest weekday appointment is Friday the 13th. If a weekend doesn't work, the next realistic opening is the week of November 16, when Santa sits 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Hours Stretch Toward December, Except on Sundays
After the opening pause, the schedule gets longer in steps. A typical weekday in mid-November is an eight-hour day. From December 18 through December 23, weekdays run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., a 12-hour day, before a shorter 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. sitting on December 24. Every Sunday of the season stays at 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., from November 8 through December 20.
Dates in 2026 | Santa photo hours |
|---|---|
Sat. Nov. 7 to Sun. Nov. 8 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
Mon. Nov. 9 to Thu. Nov. 12 | Closed |
Fri. Nov. 13 to Sun. Nov. 22 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays Nov. 14 and Nov. 21 run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Mon. Nov. 23 to Wed. Nov. 25 | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Thu. Nov. 26, Thanksgiving | Closed |
Fri. Nov. 27 | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Sat. Nov. 28 | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Mon. Nov. 30 to Fri. Dec. 11 | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays; Sat. Dec. 5 runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Sat. Dec. 12 | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Mon. Dec. 14 to Thu. Dec. 17 | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Fri. Dec. 18 to Wed. Dec. 23 | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except Sun. Dec. 20 |
Thu. Dec. 24 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Every Sunday | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
The Thanksgiving closure on that list applies to the Santa set. As of October 12, Simon's center hours page only showed upcoming hours through October 18, so the mall's own Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and extended December hours were not yet posted.
Three Dates When a Holiday Event Shares the Day With Santa
The table becomes a plan once you add the mall's other holiday events. Three dates put Santa photos and a scheduled event at the mall on the same day, so one trip covers both.
- Saturday, November 14: Tree Lighting. The Village holds its tree lighting ceremony at the amphitheatre from 5 to 9 p.m. Explore Gwinnett's listing says the program includes the Grinch, Papa Elf, Bubbles Over GA and a showing of The Polar Express. It's also the first Saturday the photo set opens at 10 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. Because the photo set closes an hour before the Village program ends, the order matters. Photos come first, then the amphitheatre.
- Sunday, November 22: Pet Photos with Santa. Simon lists Pet Photos with Santa from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the JCPenney Court. No reservation is needed, and photos are available to buy. It starts half an hour before the regular Sunday session ends at 7 p.m. That's the only pet session on the 2026 calendar, and it lasts one hour.
- Saturday, December 19: Grinch on the Green. Simon lists Grinch on the Green at The Village Amphitheatre from 4 to 6 p.m., with a Grinch visit and bounce houses. Santa photos run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. that day, so there's time for photos before or after.
Families with younger children can also try The Peachtree Express, a trackless train that Simon describes as running on weekends only. No dated holiday schedule has been posted for it. All three event dates above fall on weekends.
How a Reservation Works on This Set
Bookings go through WhereIsSanta, which says walk-ups are welcome every day until closing. It also says each 15-minute reservation slot may include more than one family. A reservation is a place in a short window, and several families may share it.
The booking page offers free rescheduling up to 48 hours before the visit, along with Shutterfly savings and a digital Santa video. When we checked it, the page didn't show package prices. The 48-hour rule makes the closed days worth checking twice. If a family has to move a Sunday slot, a Monday through Thursday in that first week is not available.
Simon lists the best entrance for the set as the one near GAP and FIT2RUN.
One event families of children with sensory needs often ask about isn't on the calendar yet. The general Caring Santa page describes a private photo experience for children with special needs, but it shows the event date as "TBD." We found no 2026 Mall of Georgia date for it as of October 12.
Dinner Afterward, One Level Up
The biggest change at the mall since last December is a dinner spot. WhatNow Atlanta reported that Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a New York brand that first opened in 2006, opened its first Georgia restaurant on July 3, 2026. It sits next to Regal Mall of Georgia at 3333 Buford Drive, Suite 2022E. The same report said the brand has appeared on the Michelin Guide's recommended list for nine consecutive years. It serves handmade Shanghai-style soup dumplings and other regional dishes.
Simon's directory places Nan Xiang on the second level by the Main Entrance. It currently lists hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. During the July soft opening, WhatNow reported shorter hours, noon to 8 p.m. The newer listing is the one to plan around, but confirm before a holiday evening. If the posted hours hold, the restaurant stays open well past the 8 p.m. close on tree-lighting Saturday and the 7 p.m. close on pet-photo Sunday.
For a longer sit-down meal, Fogo de Chão opened just outside the mall at 3206 Buford Drive on March 30, 2026, according to the company's release. This is its first holiday season at that address.
Still Marked "Coming Soon"
A few items around the mall are announced but not open yet. Bandai Namco announced on June 12, 2026 that a ONE PIECE CARD GAME Official Shop and Gashapon Stand would open in Suite 1048, with a date to come later. The official game site still lists the Atlanta shop as "Coming Soon." For families with a card collector on the gift list, it isn't confirmed for this season.
Farther out, Portillo's announced on September 18, 2026 that it plans a Buford restaurant for 2027 at Buford Highway/Highway 20 and Mall of Georgia Boulevard. The plan calls for about 4,900 square feet, nearly 100 indoor seats, 20 patio seats and double drive-thru lanes. It won't be part of this December.
The firm dates for 2026 are November 7 for Santa's arrival and November 14 for the tree lighting. Santa photos close on November 9 through 12 and on Thanksgiving, and his last sitting ends at 5 p.m. on December 24.
At Floyd Real Estate Group, we track the local calendar as closely as the market, because a family's season is planned around both. If your household is also deciding whether to list in the new year or wait until spring, we're glad to work through the timing with you. Book a Private Consultation.
