Cookies with Santa at Zoo Atlanta
Families can meet Santa for a personal visit and take a professional keepsake photo. While waiting, guests can snap photos with Frosty and Rudolph, listen to holiday music, enjoy sweet treats, and create festive tree crafts. Admission also includes the chance to explore the zoo grounds and see animals like giraffes, elephants, and tigers.
What to Expect
Personal visits with Santa, holiday crafts, and same-day zoo admission.
Event Details
Ages
All ages (children under 3 are free)
Neighborhood
Grant Park
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
Zoo Atlanta
Food & Drink
Guests can choose from festive sugar cookies, limited to one per person while supplies last; they may contain or be exposed to nuts, dairy, or gluten.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with young children
Vibe
Festive and family-friendly
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Low
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: A paid ticket is required for each person age 3 and older; children under 3 are free. A ticket is required for every adult and child, whether or not they plan to be photographed.
- Parking: Metered parking is available in the parking lot on Cherokee Avenue and in the Grant Park Gateway parking facility on Boulevard. Parking is not included with event registration. Guests may enter through the front gates or the Conservation Education Gate from the Cherokee Avenue parking lot.
- Accessibility: Strollers and wagons are welcome but must be parked in a set area outside the building.
- Pets: Pets are not permitted in the Zoo except for service animals.
Tips & Advice
- Join Zoo Atlanta's email list and buy tickets as soon as they go on sale this fall, because the event sells out and no tickets are sold at the door once it does.
- Arrive on time for your session, because only a limited number of guests are let into the event area at once, and late arrivals see Santa only when there's room.
- Keep your timed wristband on, because everyone three and older needs it to get into the zoo and the event, though you can take it off for the photo.
- Bring your child's letter to Santa, because there's a drop box for letters at the event.
- Save time to explore the zoo, because your ticket includes same-day admission and last entry is an hour and a half before the zoo closes.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does everyone in our group need a ticket, even if they aren't in the photo?
Yes. Every adult and child needs a Cookies with Santa ticket. Children under 3 are free. If the event sells out, family members without tickets have to wait outside the ARC building.
Can we visit the zoo too?
Yes. Your ticket includes same-day Zoo Atlanta admission, so you can see the giraffes, elephants, tigers and more. Last entry is an hour and a half before the zoo closes.
Where do we park?
Use the metered parking in the Cherokee Avenue lot or the Grant Park Gateway parking facility on Boulevard. Event tickets don't include parking validation.
Are the cookies allergy-friendly?
There's a choice of festive sugar cookies, first-come, first-served, one per guest while they last. They're made off-site, so they can't be guaranteed free of nuts, dairy or gluten.
Can we bring a stroller or wagon?
Yes, but strollers and wagons go in a set parking area outside the building.
More Christmas Events Near Atlanta
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.