Milwaukee Area Mall Hours & Santa Photo Guide: Winter 2025

Malls in greater Milwaukee host full Santa photo experiences this season, running from mid-November through Christmas Eve. Mayfair Mall, Southridge Mall, and Brookfield Square each offer professional Santa photos with reservation options, sensory-friendly hours, and pet photo opportunities. All three malls extend their hours during the holiday season, making it convenient for families to shop and visit Santa during one trip.

The Santa season officially begins November 13, 2025 at Brookfield Square (the earliest opening) and November 17 at Mayfair Mall, with Southridge Mall following the traditional mid-November timeline. Reservations are strongly recommended but not required at all three locations, with walk-up visits accepted throughout the season. All locations offer special accommodations including sensory-friendly "Caring Santa" events for children with autism or sensory sensitivities, and dedicated pet photo nights for families wanting pictures with their furry friends.

Mayfair Mall

Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa operates Wisconsin's largest and most popular Santa photo experience, located on Level 1 near Nordstrom. The 2025 season runs November 17 through December 24, with reservations available through two booking platforms: WhereIsSanta.com and Santa's Fast Pass. While walk-up visits are accepted, reservations guarantee shorter wait times and preferred time slots.

Mall Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. The mall closes Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day but opens early for Black Friday (projected 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM). Christmas Eve hours are 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, with New Year's Eve at 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Individual stores and restaurants may operate different hours.

Santa's specific daily hours for 2025 have not yet been published, but families can book reservations online or arrive during walk-up hours. Photo packages can be purchased online to reduce wait times, with multiple digital and print options available. On Christmas Eve, only walk-up visits are available—no advance reservations.

The mall hosts two signature special events annually. Santa Cares Day with Lifetime provides a complimentary sensory-friendly experience before mall opening, offering free photo packages in a calm environment for children with autism or sensory sensitivities. Pet Photo nights occur on select Monday evenings, welcoming leashed pets or those in carriers. Specific 2025 dates for both events will be announced on the mall website.

Contact: Main line (414) 771-1300, 24-hour security (414) 443-5140. Book at whereissanta.com/mall/1084 or santasfastpass.com/scheduling/9117-mayfair-mall. Website: mayfairmall.com/en/visit/holiday.html

Southridge Mall

Southridge Mall in Greendale features the Simon® Santa Photo Experience operated by The Noerr Programs, stationed in the Lower Level Center Court near JCPenney and Macy's. Based on historical patterns, Santa typically arrives mid-to-late November and remains through December 24, though the specific 2025 start date has not been confirmed as of November 4.

Mall Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Extended hours begin in November and continue through the first week of January. Holiday hours include: Thanksgiving closed, Black Friday 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Christmas Eve 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Christmas Day), New Year's Eve 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, New Year's Day 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Santa's typical schedule (based on previous years): Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM with breaks at 1:00-1:45 PM and 4:30-5:15 PM. Sundays run noon - 6:00 PM (standard) or 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (December Sundays). Reservations are recommended but not required, booked through simon.noerrsanta.com. A nominal reservation fee is charged but credited toward any photo package purchase.

The mall excels at inclusive experiences. Caring Santa events occur on select Sunday mornings before mall opening (typically 7:30-9:00 AM or 9:30-10:30 AM), featuring a quiet, calm environment with breakfast snacks, activity tables, and giveaways for children with sensory sensitivities. Registration at simon.com/caringsanta is recommended. Pet Photos with Santa happen on select Sunday evenings after regular hours (historically 6:00-8:00 PM), with proceeds benefiting local animal rescues like Winston's Wishes. Pets must remain leashed and enter through the Southeast Mall Entrance between JCPenney and Macy's.

Southridge partners with Save the Children, collecting donations from guests that have totaled over $1 million since the program's inception. The mall also features free family amenities including Kids Corner (lower level, Center Court) with creative classes and activities for ages 10 and under.

Contact: Mall (414) 421-5600, Security (414) 421-5603. Santa reservations at simon.noerrsanta.com. Website: southridgeshoppingmall.com/events/

Brookfield Square Mall

Brookfield Square Mall launches its Santa season earliest among Milwaukee-area malls, with Santa arriving November 13, 2025 at Santa's Workshop in Center Court near JCPenney. The season continues through December 24.

Mall Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Holiday schedule: Thanksgiving closed, Black Friday 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM, extended hours December 16-21 and 23 (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM), Christmas Eve 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed Christmas Day), New Year's Eve and Day both 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Santa's Schedule: Monday-Thursday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Friday-Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM. The experience is operated by VIP Holiday Photos with reservations encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are accepted though wait times aren't guaranteed.

Visits with Santa are free—families only pay if they purchase photo packages. November 2025 visitors receive $5 off photo packages as an exclusive early-season discount. Reservations and pricing details are available at vipholidayphotos.com/mall/H-BS.

Pet Photos with Santa occur every Monday during the season (historically November 18, 25 and December 2, 9, 16). Pets must be on leash or in carriers, with owners responsible for cleanup. The mall also features a North Pole Mailroom with writing stations where children can compose and mail letters directly to Santa's mailbox at the workshop.

The experience features a real-bearded professional Santa, professionally designed sets, and quick digital photo delivery with multiple package options.

Contact: Mall (262) 797-7245, Marketing Manager Susan.Angelin@cblproperties.com. Santa reservations at vipholidayphotos.com/mall/H-BS. Website: shopbrookfieldsquaremall.com

The Corners of Brookfield

The Corners of Brookfield, an upscale lifestyle center, offers limited Santa experiences through special events rather than daily photo sessions. This outdoor shopping destination focuses on occasional community events featuring Santa rather than a permanent Santa setup.

Center Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. The center typically closes Thanksgiving and Christmas Day with reduced hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

Past Santa events have included a December IMPROV restaurant event (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM on select Sundays) featuring complimentary photos with Santa, hot chocolate, Christmas crafts, Santa letters, face painting, and treats. Registration is required (one ticket per family). The center also hosts an annual Town Tree Lighting on the first Saturday in December with Santa visits, carolers, and holiday festivities. The Von Maur department store has historically offered Santa photos on select December dates (typically noon - 5:00 PM, free photos with personal camera).

Important: As of November 2025, the 2025 holiday event schedule has not been announced. The official events page shows no scheduled events, suggesting programming details will be released closer to the season.

Contact: (262) 784-2555. Monitor the events page at thecornersofbrookfield.com for 2025 schedule announcements.

Locations without traditional Santa experiences

Bayshore Town Center (Glendale) does not host a traditional Santa photo experience. The open-air lifestyle center, redesigned in 2019 with most indoor spaces demolished, focuses on shopping and dining rather than enclosed mall amenities. However, Mallards restaurant at Bayshore offers Breakfast with Santa events (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on select dates) featuring a breakfast buffet and meet-and-greet with Santa. Call (414) 509-5555 for reservations. Bayshore's regular hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Contact: (414) 963-8780, thebayshorelife.com.

Johnson Creek Premium Outlets and Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets do not offer center-wide Santa experiences. These outdoor shopping centers focus on outlet retail deals rather than traditional mall amenities. Johnson Creek hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Pleasant Prairie hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Both centers close Thanksgiving and Christmas Day with extended hours for Black Friday and reduced hours Christmas Eve.

Making the most of your Santa visit

Book early for best selection. All three major malls recommend online reservations to secure preferred time slots and minimize wait times, especially during peak weekend hours and the final two weeks before Christmas. Reservations can typically be made starting in early November.

Plan for sensory-friendly options. Families with children who have autism or sensory sensitivities should specifically look for Caring Santa or Santa Cares events at Mayfair and Southridge. These early-morning sessions before regular mall hours provide calm, quiet environments with trained staff and complimentary or discounted photo packages. Register in advance as space is limited.

Bring your pets on designated days. If you want photos with your furry family members, Brookfield Square offers pet photos every Monday, while Southridge and Mayfair host pet photo events on select dates. Check each mall's website for specific dates and enter through designated mall entrances with pets on leashes or in carriers.

Verify hours before visiting. While regular hours remain consistent, holiday hours can vary and individual stores may operate different schedules than the mall. Call ahead or check websites to confirm Santa's specific hours and any special holiday mall closures or extensions, particularly during the final week before Christmas.

Check for updates in mid-November. Some specific 2025 details—including exact Santa hours, special event dates, and complete photo package pricing—may not be published until closer to Thanksgiving. Monitor mall websites and social media for final confirmations of schedules and pricing.

Quick reference guide

Mall Santa Dates Location Reservations Special Features Mayfair Mall Nov 17 - Dec 24 Level 1, Nordstrom Wing whereissanta.com/mall/1084 Santa Cares Day, Pet Photos Southridge Mall Mid-Nov - Dec 24 Lower Level Center Court simon.noerrsanta.com Caring Santa, Sunday Pet Photos Brookfield Square Nov 13 - Dec 24 Center Court vipholidayphotos.com/mall/H-BS Monday Pet Photos, $5 Nov discount The Corners Special events only Varies by event Check events page Limited occasions, free events

The 2025 holiday season offers Milwaukee-area families excellent options for creating Santa memories, from traditional enclosed mall experiences with professional photos and special accommodations to intimate community events. With three major malls providing comprehensive daily Santa programs and multiple special event opportunities throughout the region, families can choose the experience that best fits their needs and schedule.