It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but many of us are already looking ahead to Christmas! If you’d like to get in a merry mood, you’ll want to check out a memorable, magical event that’s celebrating its 15th year, and runs through Christmas Eve!

Courtesy of Bass Pro Shops

By Peg Cameron Gill 

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are proud to invite families to the beloved tradition of visiting Santa Claus this holiday season during the annual Santa’s Wonderland experience. The memory-making event will run through Christmas Eve.

During your visit, your family members can mail their letters to Santa and receive free giveaways (while supplies last). Families can also enjoy the amazing aquariums and wildlife displays found in every Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s store.

Courtesy of Bass Pro Shops

Dress your tots in festive finery and visit your local store to take a free 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa, as well as a festive video featuring their photo with Santa. 

Each year, more than two million kids and families enjoy this holiday tradition.

Reservations for a Santa photo shoot are strongly recommended. To learn more and make your reservation, click here.

There are 172 Bass Pro Shops in the US, and seven are located in the Show-Me state (if you include the Bass Pro Catalog Outlet Store in Springfield). You’ll find Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Branson, Independence, Columbia, Sunset Hills, and St. Charles, along with a Cabela’s in Hazelwood. 

The original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location is in Springfield. It’s affectionately known as “The Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores®.” The massive outdoor-themed experience is the number one tourist destination in our state, attracting four million families, sportsmen, and outdoor enthusiasts every year.

The store has almost 500,000 square feet dedicated to the beauty of the outdoors, and includes waterfalls, aquariums, a firing range, a TRACKER® boat showroom, Hemingway’s Blue Water Cafe and more. 

So make a date to get a snap with Santa this holiday season. Ho-ho-hope you can make it!

If your holiday traditions include baking cookies,  you’ll want to see the recipes from our 2022 Great Statewide Cookie Exchange. Our Missouri Life Ambassadors recruited talented home bakers from around the state who generously shared their favorite Christmas cookie recipes. 

You can even download our recipe collection here!

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.