Legendary Santa
Legendary Santa and the lovely Snow Queen have been delighting families since 1936. It all started on the 7th floor of the historic Miller & Rhoads department store and now 25,000 children and families head to the Children’s Museum of Richmond to continue, or start, their family tradition. Here are some tips for getting the most out of the day.
We are delighted to welcome you and your loved ones for a visit with Legendary Santa during the 2025 season. Legendary Santa visits must be reserved in advance through tickets available for purchase on our website. Ticket sales begin on October 20, 2025 for Children’s Museum members and November 3, 2025 for non-members.
Have additional questions not answered on our FAQ page? Please email santa@cmorva.org.
Everyone becomes a believer when they listen for the sleigh bells and see Santa’s feet appear in the chimney. Adults turn into children again when Santa cries out “Merry Christmas!” after his ceremonial decent. When it is your turn to walk onto the stage, you are first greeted by the Snow Queen who gives a Snowflake of Courage to Santa’s smallest visitors. Eyes widen and jaws drop when Legendary Santa leans from his green and gold throne to call each child by name to come tell him what they want for Christmas.
An emailed professional photo is included with the Legendary Santa ticket; additional packages are also available for purchase. Please note, no flash photography is permitted inside Santa Land.
Admission to the Children's Museum is not included with the Legendary Santa visit.
Please note: The Children's Museum is unable to answer phone inquiries about Legendary Santa. For the quickest response, please email santa@cmorva.org.
Presented By
Holiday Village Sponsor
Chimney Visit
The Chimney Visit allows a limited number of families to enjoy the magic of watching Legendary Santa come down the chimney along with an emailed photo. Please arrive at Children's Museum Downtown 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
Tickets are $70 for up to 6 family members and must be purchased in advance. For complete details, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Chimney tickets do not include museum admission.
Regular Visit
Timed ticketed visits will assist with limited time in line. Each visit will include an emailed photo, with additional photo package purchases available. Please arrive at Children's Museum Downtown 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
Tickets are $35 for up to 6 family members and must be purchased in advance. For complete details, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Regular visits do not include museum admission.
Available Discounts
Discounted tickets will be available for our scholarship membership families as well as for families who present their SNAP EBT card, EBT App, or WIC card. Please use the code SMFA at checkout to receive your 80% discount.
Sensitive Santa
Families with children with disabilities are invited to attend Sensitive Legendary Santa on Wednesday, December 3, Friday, December 5, and Thursday, December 11 from 5:30-8:00 pm.
One complimentary ticket includes a visit with Legendary Santa for up to six individuals, plus one free emailed photo.
Sensory Guide to Legendary Santa
If your family has been enjoying Sensitive Santa for several years and your child is now older, we kindly encourage you to consider giving younger families the opportunity to experience this sensory-friendly event for the first time. Your thoughtfulness helps create magical memories for little ones who may not have had the chance yet. Thank you for your understanding!
Tickets for the 2025 Sensitive Santa season will be available on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Capture the Magic
Capture the magic of your family’s visit with a professional picture package! Please note, no flash photography is permitted inside Santa Land. Click the button to learn more about our photo packages and this year's offerings.
The Children’s Museum holds the right at any time during the Legendary Santa season to update any and all procedures for the safety of our team and guests.