New Yorkers, this ain't your ordinary Santa event! Prepare yourselves for one of the city's most famous annual holiday celebrations for children, Macy's Santaland, opening for the season on November 28th at 7am. On the eighth floor of Macy's Herald Square (34th St between Broadway and 7th Ave), kids can enter a Christmas universe, complete with chatty elves, mountains of fake snow and huge model trains. Little ones will love exploring Macy's Miracle on 34thStreet displays while saluting huge toy soldiers and checking out Christmas trees covered in beautiful ornaments.
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Parents be warned: The line at Santaland, especially on weekends, can be several HOURS long. To seriously minimize your wait, get there right as Santaland opens for the day. The alternative is skipping Santaland altogether in favor of just seeing Santa and snagging a Santaland Express Pass via the Macy's app.
The event is also totally free to attend, but if your kids are planning on sitting on Santa's lap for a photo, you may want to purchase a photo package (starting at $20) to bring the memory home. Families are also welcome to bring their own cameras to snap photos around Santaland.