Santa settles into new digs at Vintage Faire Mall

Even as the Halloween candy is still being consumed, Vintage Faire Mall has turned its attention to the all-important Christmas holiday season.

Santa Claus took up residence at the mall Wednesday, and the jolly old elf has settled into some swank new digs.

The mall’s new Santa set, sponsored by television station HGTV, features interactive activities to keep little ones occupied while they wait for their visit with Kris Kringle.

Children can step onto the “Naughty or Nice-o-Meter” to find out which list they fall on this year (marketing manager Annie Amies said there’s a very good chance kids will land on the right side). Then they can take photos with provided tablets and turn themselves into elves, before hitting the “elf-vision” room.

All of that, of course, leads up to the wish-list-offering/photo op with the big man himself.

The experience is free, and though only “official” photographers can capture the big moment with Santa, parents can take pictures of their children learning where they’ve been good or bad this year and the like, Amies said.

Those who want to get the Santa photo should bring a credit card or $30. The single photo package available is $29.99, and it comes with a variety of sizes, as well as digital downloads and the license of all photos taken, including a family portrait in a winter scene.

If the whole experience reminds you of someplace like Disneyland, that’s not a coincidence. The new set even offers customers an opportunity for reservations, similar to the FastPass offered at the Disney Parks. Families can register online for an appointment, then skip a possibly long standby line to go through the experience and meet Santa at the appointed time.

Even mall shoppers who don’t want to walk through Santa’s Workshop or visit with St. Nick will notice changes: An extensive light display is set to go off every half-hour, accompanied by music.

The set is among 10 across the country provided through an HGTV sponsorship. The others are in places that include Portland, Ore., and Santa Monica.

“We’re really lucky,” Amies said.

Reservations can be made by going online to www.santa-hq.com/reserve or by texting “vintage” to 3650.

This story was originally published November 5, 2014 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Santa settles into new digs at Vintage Faire Mall."