Where To See Santa Near Ossining, Croton This Christmas Season

OSSINING, NY — Santa Claus will be back around Croton-on-Hudson and Ossining this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person.

The Croton-on Hudson tree lighting ceremony is Thursday, with Santa leaving a parade to Vassallo Park.

The Ossining Tree Lighting Ceremony is Dec. 2 at Market Square. Holiday performances start at 5:45 p.m. and at 7:10 p.m. you can catch holiday music and Santa arriving on a fire truck for pictures.

Santa is at the Jefferson Valley Mall. Pre-register for a photo opp online and receive a free phone call from Santa to confirm. The mall is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Worth the trip:

On Saturday and Sunday, the Historical Society of Rockland County opens Jacob Blauvelt House for the annual St. Nicholas Day family event. The traditional Dutch celebration includes the saint and his beautiful horse.

You could have Breakfast with Santa at the Bear Mountain Inn, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18. Seatings are at 8 and 11 a.m.; make reservations here.

Why not head out Route 17M to nearby Monroe? Santa and Mrs. Claus make a dramatic helicopter entrance at Museum Village Dec. 3. Meet them and shop for local crafts during a holiday stroll Dec. 10-11.

Other regional malls with Santa: The Westchester in White Plains, the Palisades Center in West Nyack, and Ridge Hill and the Cross County Mall in Yonkers. The Danbury Fair Mall even has one event that's "sensory friendly" and another for pets.

If you're going into NYC to see the tree and all the windows on 5th Avenue, remember Santa will of course be at Macy’s. Santa is also coming to Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in New York City.