Hoping to meet Santa Claus in Singapore? Santa’s going (almost entirely) virtual this year but here’s how your child can catch a glimpse of the big man in red
Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, even Santa Claus and his merry band of elves are stuck in the North Pole this year. You’d normally see Santa Claus in Singapore at malls while you do your Christmas shopping and he often makes an appearance at hotels for Christmas lunch (we did find two places where he is booked this year). But this year things are different. If your kids want to see Santa, you’ll need to get crafty and orchestrate some virtual meet-and-greets. Read about all the ways you can meet Santa this year, and don’t forget to get kids in the holiday spirit with this fun downloadable Dear Santa letter template.
Read more: Sassy Mama’s Guide to All things Christmas!
Meet Santa in person in Singapore
Gardens by the Bay
Once Santa is done with his 14-day quarantine, he’s making an appearance at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome for 30-minute meet-and-greets with little ones. There are five sessions scheduled each day on 5, 6, 19, 20, 24-26 December 2020, and admission charges to the Flower Dome apply.
Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953, www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Nordic Glow
Santa’s got a packed schedule, but he’s devoting two Saturdays to visit kids at Nordic Glow. He’s making an appearance on 28 November and 12 December 2020 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm on both days. Social distancing rules apply, so you’ll have to email the Nordic Glow team to book a spot. Once you’ve confirmed, Santa will be sure to prepare a little gift for the kids. While the kids visit Santa, you can browse through Nordic Glow’s shelves, which is packed with authentic Nordic skincare, interior décor items, cryotherapy options and a range of ergonomic equipment from Finnish furniture designer SELKA.
Nordic Glow Shop Singapore, 18 Cross Street Exchange, #01-104, 048423, Singapore, Email: [email protected], Tel: (+65) 9145 7609, www.thenordicglow.com
Regent Singapore
Come Christmas day, small patrons at Regent Singapore’s Christmas lunch at Basilico will be treated to a magical visit from Santa Claus in Singapore! Your kids will get to shake hands with jolly ole St. Nick before letting loose in the bouncy castle and enjoying other Christmas activities such as face-painting, balloon sculpting, arts and crafts, and a magic show at the Kids’ Corner.
Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715, www.regenthotels.com/EN/Singapore
Personalised videos from Santa
Portable North Pole (PNP)
PNP has free personalised Santa videos for kiddos where Santa even says your kid’s name! They are really good too! Fill in the form with your little one’s name (there are different pronunciations to choose from!) and a picture and PNP will create a customised Christmas greeting from Santa. Try a simple video for free, or pay for an interactive video or live call. The videos are wallet-friendly, and PNP donates up to 5% of its web purchases to children’s hospitals around the globe.
Portable North Pole, www.portablenorthpole.com
Proof that Santa exists
Catch a Character
Catch Santa in the act of delivering presents! If “proof” of Santa existing is what you’re after, this is it! Download the easy-to-use Catch a Character app. Snap a picture of your Christmas tree, child’s bedroom or the family living area and then choose a Santa to superimpose into your image. You can create an unlimited amount of images on your smartphone for free, and opt for Santas in a range of ethnicities. Good news: You can reuse the app with the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
Catch a Character, www.catchacharacter.com
Meet Santa Claus virtually
Jingle Ring
JingleRing’s Santa Claus visits are more than just a Zoom call. There’s pre-visit entertainment before speaking to Santa Claus plus you get a keepsake video, and photos with Santa. JingleRing’s Santas are a diverse lot, and can speak multiple languages (ASL too!). There’s even a Sensitive Santa option for children with special needs. Additionally, you can opt to have Mrs. Claus join in the experience and read you a full Christmas story. Every JingleRing booking comes with a free activity book.
Jingle Ring, www.jinglering.com
That’s Santa!
Meet Santa Claus in a 15- or 30-minute, interactive Zoom call (from $50). One kid can meet Santa one-on-one or siblings can share a chat with Santa and you can even invite the grandparents to join in.
That’s Santa!, www.thatssanta.com/virtual
See where Santa is
Santa Tracker Programmes
Every year since 1955, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has run this Christmas-themed programme. Essentially a tracking simulation for Santa Claus, the NORAD Santa Tracker opens each year on 1 December. However, the real fun doesn’t begin until Christmas Eve, when kids can follow his journey from the North Pole to houses around the world live. Alternatively, follow Santa’s journey around the world on the Google Santa Tracker all through December; the website also had fun, educational and interactive activities for the whole family.
Chat with Santa
Virtual Claus
This meeting with Santa Claus is about eight minutes in length, and you can extend the time if there’s more than one child who wants to meet St. Nick. Alternatively, book a 15-minute meeting with Mrs. Claus, who will read your little one a story. All bookings come with a personalised email from Santa or Mrs. Claus and a digital image that commemorates the meeting. If you book before Thanksgiving (26 November 2020), you’ll get a 10% discount on any Virtual Claus meeting.
Virtual Claus, www.virtualclaus.com
Handwritten Letters from Santa
Can’t be fussed with new-fangled tech for your child’s interaction with Santa Claus? If you’ve downloaded our free “Dear Santa” template for your kids to fill out, they may be hoping for a reply. Reach out to The Big Red Box for a personalised letter from Santa to your child. Each letter comes with a free Christmas gift (activity books, stickers, keyrings, temporary Christmas tattoos and more), and is mailed to you in a pretty red envelope with a gold embossed seal. Alternatively, browse through Etsy for handmade letters.
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