Holiday magic returns to the Atlanta-area Simon Property Group malls as the Santa Photo Experience opens to greet bright-eyed visitors with their wish lists during the Christmas season. Santa schedules and locations are as follows:
- Lenox Square, now through December 24 in Macy’s Court
- Mall of Georgia, November 7-December 24 in lower level Nordstrom Court
- Northlake Mall, November 17-December 24 in Center Court
- Town Center at Cobb, now through December 24 in Center Court
Presenting Sponsors for the Simon Santa Photo Experience include ABC Family, VISIT FLORIDA, Gymboree, and ScentSicles.
“There is always a great deal of entertainment and fun at Simon malls during the holiday season but the Santa Photo Experience is something generations of families count on every year,” said Shelley Korenbrot, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Northlake Mall.
ABC Family is sponsoring the event for the eighth consecutive year and will be promoting its 25 Days of Christmas television programming event which begins on air December 1, by distributing keepsake programming guides.
Another sense will be engaged this holiday season as Simon is teaming up with ScentSicles® scented ornaments to fragrance the Santa Photo Experience with the aroma of Douglas Fir to create an authentic Christmas experience.
“ScentSicles capture the true-to-life fragrance of a freshly cut Christmas tree, making it feel like Christmas – just like a visit with Santa does,” said Nick McKay, CEO of EnviroScent, Inc., the company behind ScentSicles. “Our sense of smell is extremely powerful as it links directly to childhood memories.” ScentSicles will be available for sale at all local Santa Photo Experience locations.
Returning again this season is the ‘Cutest Santa Photo Contest’, designed to find the most adorable kids and pets! The ‘Cutest Santa Photo Contest’ will be hosted on each mall’s Facebook page. It’s easy – simply post your favorite kid or pet photo with Santa on the Santa Photo App on each mall’s Facebook page, to be available from early November through mid-December. A copy of the official contest rules will be available on the Santa Photo App or at Guest Services at all participating Atlanta-area malls.
The cutest kid Grand Prize winner gets a visit at their home from Santa in a horse drawn carriage before Christmas Eve, with a sleigh full of prizes including $1,200 in Gymboree clothing, $250 in toys and a $250 Simon Giftcard as well as an all-inclusive trip for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in Port St. Lucie, FL which includes air transportation and rental car valued at more than $8,300.
Simon Property Group will also award the pet winner a $250 Simon Giftcard as well as an all inclusive trip for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in Port St. Lucie, FL which includes air transportation and rental car valued at more than $6,850. Ten (10) additional all-inclusive trips for a family of four to Club Med Sandpiper resort in St. Lucie, FL including air transportation and rental car valued at more than $6,600 will be given away to runner-ups in each category.
Returning to the Simon Santa Photo Experience this year is Pet Photo Night. Many pet owners view their pet as an integral member of the family and are just as extravagant in caring for their pets as their “human” family members. Because some customers may suffer from pet allergies, Pet Photo nights are hosted after regular mall closing and the set gets an extensive cleaning following the event to remove dander, etc. The photos may be used for entry into the Cutest Santa Photo Contest that customers can enter on Facebook. The Pet Photo Night schedule is as follows:
- Lenox Square: December 2 and December 9 (7:30-9 p.m.)
- Mall of Georgia: November 18 (6:30-8 p.m.) and December 9 (7:30-9 p.m.)
- Northlake Mall: November 26 and December 3 (6-8 p.m.)
- Town Center at Cobb: November 18 (6:30-8 p.m.) and December 2 (7:30-9 p.m.)
The Noerr Programs, operators of the Santa Photo Experience at Lenox Square, Mall of Georgia, Northlake Mall and Town Center at Cobb, is sharing the heart of Santa online this holiday season, through the following programs:
- An innovative social media program called “BeMerrySanta®”. Families can keep up with Santa’s daily musings on his Facebook page at facebook.com/BeMerrySanta or Twitter @BeMerrySanta.
- In addition, parents can reinforce Santa’s spirit of goodwill with their children, either by clicking on the BeMerrySanta page on Facebook, or www.bemerrysanta.com. In just a few moments, parents can input their child’s good deed into Santa’s Magical Badge Generator. Parents can print out their child’s customized badge, or show it to Santa on a smartphone or tablet during their visit to Noerr’s Santa Photo Experience, where Santa will congratulate and reward them with BeMerry! stickers and special offers.
- Guests to every Noerr set will have the opportunity to share Santa’s spirit of generosity by making a donation via The Noerr Programs to U.S. rural children in need through Save the Children, a 75-year-old non-profit organization. To create even more magic for donors, The Noerr Programs will offer a chance for a lucky family of four to win a trip to America’s Capitol, Washington D.C.
Caring Santa
Caring Santa is a special event dedicated to families that have children with special needs, providing a subdued environment to visit The Santa Photo Experience. Many steps are taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for their magical visit with Santa. The program is guided by AbilityPath, an online support organization serving the special needs community for over 90 years. The Caring Santa schedule at Atlanta-area malls is as follows:
- Lenox Square: December 2 at 9-11 a.m.
- Mall of Georgia: December 2, 8-10 a.m.
- Northlake Mall: December 2, 9-11 a.m.
- Town Center at Cobb: December 2, 8-10 a.m.
