If you’re banking on getting some free photos with Santa this holiday season, make sure you visit Bass Pro Shops (or their sister store, Cabela's) before their event ends on Dec. 24. Just like last year, you’ll get a free 4x6 photo (plus a shareable video) out of the experience.
But also like last year, you'll want to reserve a 15-minute time slot in advance to claim your spot. And it actually might pay off to reserve a weekday session this year, as they’ve added a few new giveaways that only happen Monday through Friday.
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Free Bass Pro Santa photos take place at all Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's stores in the seven weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.
Just like other sit-down-with-Santa experiences, you’ll only get about two minutes to chat with the Bass Pro Santa (or the Cabela's Santa) before the photographer snaps your picture. So it's more of a quick visit than a sit-down photoshoot.
But each family who participates (they allow up to eight people per family) will get to take home one free 4x6 photo, plus a shareable emailed video. You can also request that they use your own camera or phone to snap the picture.
Bass Pro Santa photos are offered from Nov. 3 - Dec. 24, 2024, with daily time slots about every 15 minutes.
As confirmed on their booking website, the Bass Pro Santa arrives at all Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Photo sessions begin the following day, on Sunday, Nov. 3, and continue daily through Christmas Eve (Tuesday, Dec. 24).
Advance reservations are recommended for Bass Pro Santa photos, and time slots are offered about every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. (but check their website for current availability).
Reservations are highly recommended, and they open up seven days in advance.
You can make your photo appointment in just a few steps on the Bass Pro Shops website. Availability and time slots may vary by your location, though.
Appointment time slots generally go like this:
Morning slots: Every 15 minutes, 10 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Afternoon slots: Every 15 minutes, 12:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Evening slots: Every 15 minutes, 6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
You can try booking on the day of your visit, but just know that spots will fill up quickly, especially as we get closer to the holiday.
Each family gets one free 4x6 print and a shareable video, but the digital file will cost you an extra $20 (or more).
The Bass Pro Santa Photo experience comes with one free 4x6 print, plus a shareable video that gets sent to your email. But you’ll have to pay extra if you want a high-resolution digital photo or other print sizes.
Two of the three packages went up in price this year by a whole $5, as I've noted in the list of options below.
Bass Pro Santa Photo Packages (2024):
Digital Download (includes 4x6 cards, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image) — $20 $5 more than in 2023
Christmas Card Package (includes 4x6 cards, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image) — $25 $5 more than in 2023
Jingle Bells Package (includes eight prints of various sizes, a free 4x6 photo, and a high-resolution digital image) — $25
Take photos with your own camera or phone to avoid the digital file fee.
I definitely recommend using your own camera to get the digital file for free. Then you can print copies yourself for much less using our roundup of the latest photo deals from retailers like CVS or Walgreens.
Visit Santa on a weekday to avoid the heaviest crowds and get possible craft freebies.
You’ll skip the crowds and have more room to roam if you make your Bass Pro Santa Photo reservation on a weekday instead of during the weekend.
And new for 2024, they offer weekday giveaways where you might take home a 3-D Christmas tea light tree craft (Nov. 4 - 15), wood ornament crafts (Nov. 18 - Dec. 6), or a bass-shaped cookie cutter (Dec. 9 - 24).
KCL TIP: Kids can drop off a letter for Santa in his special mailbox at all Bass Pro Shops locations. If you include an email address with your letter, you'll get a free note back from Santa.
Bring your dog along for Santa photos — most Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations are pet-friendly.
The majority of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s locations will allow dogs (and even cats) in stores year-round, except where local laws or shopping centers prohibit it.
As long as your local store allows it — and your furry friend is on Santa’s Nice List — bring ’em along for a Bass Pro Santa photo.
At the time I’m writing this, the only two Bass Pro Shops locations that don’t allow pets are in Dania Beach, Florida, and Mesa, Arizona.
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