When was the first time you saw Santa in person? Maybe it was at the mall or someone in your family put on a fake beard and brought in a bundle of gifts on Christmas Eve.

Now that it’s time to share this magical part of the holidays with your own children, the key is finding a place that is relatively stress-free for your children (+ your sanity).

Here are some of our picks (and a few from Kidding Around Greenville’s list) to meet the man in red himself:
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🎅🏾 Upstate Holiday Light Show at Greenville Pickens Speedway | Through December 31 | Open everyday from 5:30 p.m. – Midnight. | Santa will be in his workshop at the village for photos. | $20+

🎅🏾 Anderson Christmas Lights at the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd and Woodcrest Drive in Anderson. | Through December 25 | Santa will be at Santa’s Village, which now also includes a Veteran’s Stage. | New displays will be added each week. | $10 admission to light show; $5+ for photos with Santa

🎅🏾 The Santa Run at the Kroc Center | Wear your tackiest sweater or a full-on Santa suit through the streets of downtown for 5K. | New this year: a costume contest for furry friends. 🐶| $27+

🎅🏾 Spartanburg Jaycees Christmas Parade | December 12 | The Elf Dash Fun Run will start right after the parade + follow the same 1.5 mile route and compete for "Best Dressed" prizes. | Parade is free, Elf Dash is $25 per person

🎅🏾 Haywood Mall | Through Christmas Eve | Regular Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m.– 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 – 7 p.m. | Holiday Hours vary.

Have a favorite Santa that we’ve left off the list? Let us know.

Soby’s on the second Saturday of the month each year
Mast General Store
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights | Open from 6-10 p.m. every night through December 30. Some say he is the best Santa in the Upstate and this is the last year to see him!

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Not everyone is into waiting in long lines to see their kids cry on Santa’s lap – we get it. So here are some other family-friendly options during the holidays:

Where to see holiday lights

Where to get good eggnog (or how to make it yourself)

Where to take family and friends with kids

Chickfil A Pelham Road is a great place to see Santa. They have breakfast (reservation required) the Saturdays leading up to Christmas and also throughout the month. They have a calendar in store.

For a holiday night out without the kids, check out The Eight: Reindeer Monologues at the Spartanburg Little Theatre through Dec. 16. Get tickets soon because there are only 60 seats available for each performance.

Happy Monday, y’all. Only 14 more days till Christmas. 🎄

– Jordan

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