# Photos with Santa at Downtown Cary Park > Event for families in the Raleigh–Cary area (NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Sat, Dec 5 (+2 more dates) · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Where: Downtown Cary Park — The Gathering House, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 - Ages: All ages - Price: Check official pricing - Organizer: Town of Cary / Downtown Cary Park - Official page: https://downtowncarypark.com/ - Last checked: Tue, Oct 27 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/photos-with-santa-at-downtown-cary-park--listing-10a6117501862fb0308714b7 ## About Santa makes several stops at Downtown Cary Park this December, sitting in a big green chair in the Gathering House among decorated trees and oversized wrapped presents. The idea is simple: families bring their own phone or camera and take their own keepsake photos rather than buying a printed package, so siblings, grandparents and even a quick video are all fair game. The 2026 park dates are Saturday, Dec 5 from 10 am to 5 pm during the Tree Lighting Celebration, Tuesday, Dec 8 from 10 am to noon, and Friday, Dec 18 from 5 to 9 pm. Santa also visits the Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road on Friday, Dec 4 from 5 to 8 pm. The town warns that Santa is popular, so expect a wait, and the line may close about 30 minutes before the scheduled end. While you are downtown, children can drop a letter in the Santa Mailbox on Academy Plaza (Nov 16 to Dec 6) and get a reply if they include their name and return address. ## Similar picks in Raleigh - [Pictures With Santa at the Downtown Holiday Open House — Wake Forest](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/pictures-with-santa-at-the-downtown-holiday-open-house-wake-forest--listing-994c9e44a9d3fd3a7c1c9781) — Sat, Dec 5 · Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce · All ages · checked Oct 27. During the 2026 Downtown Holiday Open House in Wake Forest, the Town offers free-standing reserved photo slots with Santa at the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce building on… - [Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park](https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/tree-lighting-celebration-at-downtown-cary-park--listing-9ea6c784d07cb1b363e6fc86) — Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Downtown Cary Park · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. 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