Be here when Santa makes his first stop – and get Santa Photos at Zoo Atlanta!

Bring the family for a personal visit with Santa and a professional Santa photo to remember the moment.

Santa is taking his workshop on the road and making his first stop at Zoo Atlanta! Bring the family for a personal visit with Santa and a professional Santa photo to remember the moment. While you wait for your turn with Santa, enjoy festive snacks, holiday crafts, and of course, holly jolly photo opportunities for all! 

Tickets

Tickets will go on sale in fall 2026. This event typically sells out, so sign up for Zoo Atlanta’s email list to be the first to know when tickets are available.

Tickets include: 

  • Professional Photo: A professional photographer will take your picture with Santa. 
  • Festive Sights and Sounds: While you wait, snap a few photos with Frosty and Rudolph and enjoy all your favorite holiday songs with the family. 
  • Sweet Treats: No visit with Santa’s elves is complete without a few holiday treats.
  • Cheerful Crafts: Create a holiday craft that’s worthy of the top of the tree! 
  • Admission to Zoo Atlanta: Wish “happy holidays” to giraffes, elephants, tigers, and more! Keep in mind that the last entry into the Zoo is permitted 1.5 hours before our scheduled closing time. 

To help Santa’s elves prepare for your visit, a Cookies with Santa ticket is required for each adult and/or child in your party regardless of whether they plan to be photographed. Have questions? See our FAQs.

FAQs

May I bring other family members? 
To help Santa and his elves prepare, a Cookies with Santa ticket is required for each member of your party regardless of if they plan to be photographed. Those 3 years of age and older require a paid ticket. Those under 3 years old are free. 

We cannot make any special concessions for family members who do not have event tickets. Family members without tickets will need to wait outside the ARC building if the event has sold out. 

Will tickets be available on the day of the event? 
Cookies with Santa has sold out in the past! We encourage all guests to purchase tickets in advance. Additional tickets will not be available at the door should the event sell out. 

I am running late! What should I do?
We will limit the number of guests permitted in the event area at one time. We ask all guests to arrive on time for their Cookies with Santa session. Guests who arrive late to their scheduled session will be seen by Santa on an as-available basis.

I’m no longer able to attend. May I get my ticket(s) refunded?
Tickets for fundraising events like Cookies with Santa are non-refundable. If you cannot attend for unforeseen circumstances, we encourage you to gift your ticket to friends or family.

How do I enter the event?
After parking, enter Zoo Atlanta from the front gates OR the Conservation Education Gate from the Cherokee Avenue parking lot. Scan your ticket with a Zoo Atlanta staff member. Those 3 years of age and older in your party will receive a timed wristband. You MUST wear this wristband to access Zoo Atlanta and the Cookies with Santa event. You may remove this wristband for your photo with Santa. At your designated time slot, follow signs or instructions from Zoo Atlanta staff to Cookies with Santa. 

Where should I park?
Metered parking is available in the parking lot on Cherokee Avenue and in the Grant Park Gateway parking facility on Boulevard. Parking areas are owned by the City of Atlanta and managed by AAA Parking. Event registration does not include parking validation. To learn more about parking, click here.

Can I visit the Zoo before or after my reservation? 
Yes! A Cookies with Santa ticket includes same-day admission to Zoo Atlanta during operational hours. Members should bring their Membership card. Keep in mind the last entry into the Zoo is permitted 1.5 hours before scheduled closing time. 

I am a Zoo Atlanta Member. Do I have to attend the first time slot? 
Zoo Atlanta Members can make a reservation for any time slot, as the experience for all guests will be the same level of merry!

Will there be seating to enjoy our cookies? 
Yes! Seating will be available. We anticipate guests rotating to various activities so seating may be limited at times. 

What is in the cookies? 
We will have various types of festive sugar cookies to choose from on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note the cookies are made at an off-site facility, so we are not able to guarantee that they are completely free from nuts, dairy, or gluten. One cookie per guest while supplies last. 

Letters to Santa: Yes, a drop box will be available during the event. Click here for a letter template.

Can I bring a stroller or wagon? 
Yes; however, to maximize the space for fun, we ask that strollers and wagons park in the designated space outside of the building. 

May I bring our family pet? 
No. Pets are not permitted in the Zoo with the exception of service animals. Read more about Zoo Atlanta’s Service Animal Admittance Policy here. 

Sponsorship Opportunities: Interested in having a presence at Cookies with Santa? Contact corporaterelations@zooatlanta.org for more information. 

Questions? Email publicevents@zooatlanta.org.  

 

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