13 Santa Challenge

It started as a joke. My 13-year-old rolled his eyes at the idea of getting a photo with Santa. “Mom, I’m not a little kid anymore.” Sound familiar?

That’s exactly where the 13 Santa Challenge was born — out of a need to make the holidays feel exciting and adventurous again for older kids who’ve (allegedly) outgrown the magic.

The Problem with “Too Old for Santa”

There’s a frustrating in-between phase when kids are too old to believe in the full Santa experience but too young to really appreciate the holiday season as adults do. The result? Eye rolls, phone glued to their hands, and a general air of “this is boring.”

We wanted to change that. We wanted to give older kids a mission.

Why 13 Santas?

We landed on 13 for a few reasons. It’s enough to be genuinely challenging — you’ll need to plan, explore, and get a little creative to find that many different Santas before Christmas Eve. But it’s not so many that it feels impossible. It’s the sweet spot between “easy” and “epic.”

And here’s what surprised us: every Santa is different. The mall Santa is formal and traditional. The Santa at the tree farm was jolly and told terrible jokes. The Santa at the charity gala was wearing a tuxedo. Collecting those differences became half the fun.

What You Need to Get Started

• A camera (your phone is perfect)
• Our free Santa Tracker — print it out or screenshot it
• A sense of adventure and a willingness to say “yes, I’ll get a photo with that Santa”

That’s genuinely it. The challenge is free, family-friendly, and works in any city or town that has holiday events. Big cities have dozens of Santas; smaller towns require a bit more creativity — which makes completing the challenge even more satisfying.

Ready to Start Your Quest?

Head over to our How It Works page for the official rules, grab your Santa Tracker, and get out there. The holiday season is shorter than you think — and those 13 Santas aren’t going to find themselves.

Happy hunting! 🎅