Free Santa photos are back at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s for 2026, and there are two different dates to put on the calendar. Santa’s arrival celebration is November 7. The in-store photo visits start November 8.
If the family photo is your main goal, plan for the second date. Matching pajamas can wait one more day.
Photo courtesy of Bass Pro Shops.
What the free Santa visit includes
According to Bass Pro Shops’ October 26 announcement, the season runs November 8 through December 24, with a free 4×6 photo and a free shareable video. Additional photo packages cost extra.
That makes the included print and video worth keeping separate from the optional upgrades when you plan your visit. Check your store’s photo-session calendar rather than assuming Santa is available during every shopping hour.
Reserve ahead, and check your store’s walk-in rules
Free reservations open up to seven days ahead through the official Santa’s Wonderland page. If the day you want is farther out, check again when it enters that window.
The national announcement welcomes walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis, but local instructions can be stricter. The Harlingen, Texas, store’s current event listing says its photo visits are reservation-only and that reservations open one week ahead of each available date.
Before packing everyone into the car, check your own store’s event details and available times. A national date range is not a promise of an open appointment, and walking in is not a guaranteed photo.
November 7 is the arrival celebration
Bass Pro Shops lists the outdoor arrival event for November 7 at 5 p.m. local time, with a mini reindeer plush giveaway while supplies last. The free in-store photo season begins the following day.
The Irvine event listing also separates the arrival celebration from the photo dates and warns that activities are subject to availability and change. Check local details before making a special trip for a giveaway.
There are weekday activities, too
Bass Pro Shops lists Santa ornament crafts for weekdays November 9–27 and bass sticker-by-number sheets November 30–December 18, while supplies last.
Photo courtesy of Bass Pro Shops.
