Great Lakes Mall To Host Caring Santa Event This Sunday

Great Lakes Mall will host a special Caring Santa session from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Caring Santa is a special event dedicated to families that have children with special needs. It provides a subdued and stress-free environment to visit with Santa.

Many steps are taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s visit with the jolly one.

Santa's set is located in the Dillard's south concourse.

Santa's regular hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday (with hour-long reindeer breaks at 1 and 5 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays (reindeer break at 2.) Hours will extend as Christmas nears.

The mall will also host special Pet Photo nights so families can get their beloved animals photographed with Santa, as well.

Because some of customers may suffer from pet allergies, Pet Photo nights are hosted after regular mall closing and the set gets an extensive cleaning following the event to remove dander, etc.

Pet Photo Night will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec.  2 and 9.

Returning again this season is the ‘Cutest Santa Photo Contest’, designed to find the most adorable kids and pets. The ‘Cutest Santa Photo Contest’ will be hosted on Great Lakes Mall’s Facebook page.

It’s easy – simply post your favorite kid or pet photo with Santa on the Santa Photo App on Great Lakes Mall’s Facebook page, which is available from early November through mid-December.

The cutest kid Grand Prize winner gets a visit at their home from Santa in a horse drawn carriage before Christmas Eve, with a sleigh full of prizes including $1,200 in Gymboree clothing, $250 in toys and a $250 Simon Giftcard as well as an all-inclusive trip for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in Port St. Lucie, FL which includes air transportation and rental car valued at more than $8,300. 

Simon Property Group will also award the pet winner a $250 Simon Giftcard as well as an all-inclusive trip for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in Port St. Lucie, FL, which includes air transportation and rental car valued at more than $6,850.

Ten additional all-inclusive trips for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in St. Lucie, FL, including air transportation and rental car valued at more than $6,600, will be given away to runner-ups in each category.