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Santa is making the rounds in Ocean County this December, and you do not have to wait in a mall line to see him. From a nature walk in Barnegat to a pancake breakfast in Little Egg Harbor and a craft-filled afternoon on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, here are five ways to visit Santa between Saturday, December 5, and Saturday, December 19, 2026.
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Nature Walk with Santa at Cloverdale Farm
- Town: Barnegat
- Where: Program Room, Cloverdale Farm County Park, 34 Cloverdale Road, Barnegat
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Cost: $5 per team of one adult and one child, ages 2 to 7
Santa and his helpers read a few stories to the kids, then lead them on a short quarter-mile nature walk around the farm. This one is outdoors, so dress little ones for the weather. Registration goes through Ocean County Parks and Recreation at 732-506-9090.
Breakfast with Santa at LBI National
- Town: Little Egg Harbor
- Where: LBI National Golf and Resort, 99 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor
- When: Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting at 9 a.m.
This is a full breakfast buffet with a photo opportunity with Santa. The menu includes pastries and muffins, yogurt parfaits, scrambled and cheesy eggs, buttermilk pancakes, cinnamon French toast with caramelized bananas, bacon and sausage, and a waffle station with chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, sauteed apples and three sauces. Book ahead through LBI National.
Stories with Santa at LBI National
- Town: Little Egg Harbor
- Where: LBI National Golf and Resort, 99 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
An evening option for families: each ticket includes a cookies and hot cocoa bar plus a story time with Santa, and afterward children can share their Christmas wishes and lists with him. Supervising adults can attend without a ticket, but grown-ups who want milk and cookies need one of their own.
Family and Pet Photos with Santa at Cattus Island
- Town: Toms River
- Where: Lecture Room, Cooper Environmental Center, Cattus Island County Park, 1170 Cattus Island Boulevard, Toms River
- When: Sunday, December 13, 2026, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Cost: Free
Bring the whole family, dog included. Santa visits the Cooper Environmental Center for photos with families and pets. Bring your own camera or phone, and one of Santa’s helpers will snap the picture for you. Pets must be on a leash, and it is first come, first served, so arriving early is a good idea.
Santa’s Workshop at Casino Pier
- Town: Seaside Heights
- Where: Casino Pier Arcade, 800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights
- When: Saturday, December 19, 2026, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cost: $5 registration for the snow globe and hot cocoa mug crafts; photos, face painting and meet and greets are free
The boardwalk arcade fills up with holiday crafts for one afternoon. Kids can make their own snow globe, decorate a hot cocoa mug and mix their own cocoa, decorate a photo frame, get festive face painting, meet holiday characters and take photos with Santa. Sign-up is required for the paid crafts, and registrations are not refundable.
Tips for a Smooth Santa Visit
Book the ticketed events early, and bring your own camera for the free county park photos. Write down your child’s wish list ahead of time so nothing gets forgotten once they finally reach Santa.
Looking for more ways to celebrate the season? Keep checking Shop Ocean County for holiday events, shows and things to do across Ocean County.
Photo: Christopher Claus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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