Santa has made it to Denver! Time to head to Santa HQ to experience an immersive and unforgettable Santa photo experience this holiday season. HGTV presents Santa HQ, now open nationwide, plan your visit today.
This is a sponsored blog post; while the views expressed here were genuinely mine, consideration was paid to me by Santa HQ to review this experience.
A Tradition That Creates Magic
Holidays mean traditions and one tradition I have kept since Jude’s very first Christmas is heading to Flatirons Mall in Broomfield Colorado to visit Santa and get a yearly photo. Lucky for us this mall is a Santa HQ location which means we get the very best Santa photo experience! When we first heard about HGTV’s Santa HQ we knew that the kids would love it.
With Jude turning 9 this year and Teagan being a very mature 7 year old, I know that our years of Santa Magic is limited. But, with the help of the amazing Santa HQ team I know that with every visit we continue to keep the magic!! Last weekend we opted to start the holiday season off on the right foot buy heading to the mall for a little Santa fun. Once again, the whole Santa HQ experience was fantastic and I knew that we left there with a little extra magic for the next few months.
What To Expect At Santa HQ
Like I said above, we have visited Santa HQ for years now and love it but what is really incredible to me is that every year they seem to add something new and interactive for us to enjoy. I love that every year we leave feeling like it was a whole new experience. When visiting Santa HQ you can expect to have the opportunity for traditional photo opportunities with Santa Claus, with a variety of photo packages families can choose from. But also some really great interactive fun to get you into the holiday spirit!
The Naughty or Nice Meter is Jude and Teagan’s favorite thing to do when they visit Santa. Jude gets a bit nervous about where he will be but it really is a lot of fun for them to see their names on the list as they meter runs. Visitors will stand next to an interactive board to find out which of Santa’s lists – Naughty or Nice – they made for the year. As we move through out the experience the next interactive piece is the Elf-Ray Vision. Guests will explore Santa’s Observatory through the use of tablets. There are many areas within Santa HQ that trigger an augmented reality experience. This includes opening presents and seeing the elves hard at work!
But the newest addition to Santa HQ is the NEW HGTV Santa HQ’s Elf Academy! This is a family-friendly experience that features interactive technology to enhance the entire HGTV Santa HQ visit. The Elf Academy includes the Magic Mirror and the Elf-ID. The Magic Mirror allows guests to transform into one of Santa’s elves and virtually try on various elf outfits. You will be able to select one of four elf styles (Hazel, Ruby, Jack, and Strawberry) from which to choose outfits. Then virtually try on three separate elf outfits based on the chosen elf style. Once you complete your Magic Mirror experience, you have the option to receive three photos by entering either their mobile number and/or email address. The Elf-ID allows you to create your very own customized Elf-ID card using the new Elf-ID app and a “selfie”. Simply choose one of four cards to customize (Hazel, Ruby, Jack and Strawberry) and then take a photo of your own face through the application and then fill out special fields like favorite food and favorite reindeer. With all the information compiled, the Elf-ID app creates a custom Elf-ID card, which you can receive via email.
Don’t Forget The Events
Events, dates, and times are specific to each Santa HQ center so make sure you check out your local Santa HQ website for more details. Below is a list of events several of the Santa HQ centers are hosting this season.
- Sensory Santa: This sensory-friendly holiday event at Valley River Center allows families with all spectrums of special needs to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit with Santa, in a comforting environment prior to public hours. Accommodations are made to support the sensory, physical, and developmental needs of this special audience.
- Yappy Hour: Special event for you and your furry friend to get time with the “Big Guy.” Bring your dog or cat to participating centers for an exciting night of pet photos, cocktails and holiday cheer.
- Meet Santa’s Elves: Have fun with Jack & Strawberry, the official elves of Santa HQ. Kick off the holiday festivities and enjoy caroling, photo opportunities, story time, hot chocolate and much more.
Save Time With A Fast Pass
We all know that waiting in line for Santa can be really hard on those excited kiddos…okay let’s be honest, it is even harder for us parents trying to keep the kids from losing their minds! Santa wants everyone to be in a holly jolly mood when he greets you so the solution is a Fast Pass when planning your visit to Santa HQ!
Guests can select the date, a 30-minute window of time to use Fast Pass, pre-pay online, upgrade their package by adding a family photo weeks/days in advance, and opt-in to receive text reminders about their Fast Pass window.
Spend less time in line. Purchase Fast Pass and pre-purchase a photo package today!
HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving
‘Tis the season of giving. Yes, Santa is a big part of holiday tradition but it is also really important that during this season we all take a moment to remember those in our communities that might need a little extra love this season. HGTV agrees with this and is pleased to have the HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving program that encourages visitors to donate toys for underserved children during the holiday season.
In past years, HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving has collected more than 66,000 toys benefiting local organizations such as Forgotten Angel Tree, Salvation Army Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, and Spark of Love Stuff a Bus. What an incredible way to bring the holiday spirit to people through out the community.
See Our Santa HQ Experience Here:
We had a great time at Santa HQ and for one more year the magic is strong with both kids! I LOVE THAT. Santa HQ can be located in malls across the nation. Make your reservations NOW!
