Macy’s has launched its seasonal promotions including appearances of Santa at stores in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco and an updated immersive digital experience in Santaland.
This year, Santaland at Home on macys.com/HolidayCelebrations offers a digital visit to St. Nick’s Workshop where kids enter through a magical snow globe portal that whisks them to Santa’s workshop. Guided by Santa’s elves, kids can choose from interactive journeys as they explore. From augmented reality activities such as decorating their own personal trees and sharing them with loved ones via Macy’s Santaland at Home, Facebook and Instagram to fun interactive games across Santa’s workshop, kids will have a choice of electronic escapades. And kids will meet Santa through an interactive video and have the chance to take and share a special Santa selfie. Free to all, Macy’s Santaland at Home will go live on Friday, November 25, and remain available through Saturday, December 24. For access to the site, the company indicated, a supervising adult must create an account and provide the appropriate permissions to activate the program including approving access to the hardware for the interactive elements and selecting a preferred Santa experience.
From Monday, December 5, the virtual Macy’s Santa fun will extend to the metaverse via an immersive virtual reality quest on Meta’s Horizon Worlds that allows participants to roam Santa’s home, feed the reindeer and take part in playful snowball showdowns.
In-store visits return with kids seeing Santa as he sits behind his desk checking his famed list, a setting that promotes safety. Santa will appear at Macy’s State Street in Chicago on Saturday, November 5, Macy’s Center City in Philadelphia on Friday, November 25 as part of the Macy’s Dickens Village experience, Macy’s Herald Square in New York on Friday, November 25, and Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco on Friday, November 25. Santa seekers will have to make advanced reservations, which open five days in advance of the available visit date. Each day, reservations will open at 6:30 a.m. local time and will display the open reservation slots remaining. Consumers can make reservations and find additional details about Santa visits at macys.com/HolidayCelebrations.
Macy’s continues to bring celebrated traditions to communities including not only Santa appearance, but also the Macy’s Great Tree, animated Holiday Windows, Christmas Light Show and other spectacles, the company maintained.
The holidays at Macy’s will kick off with the lighting of the 115th annual Great Tree inside the world-famous Walnut Room at Macy’s State Street in Chicago in a celebration beginning on Saturday, November 5. Macy’s Great Trees also will bring cheer to Macy’s Downtown Crossing in Boston, Macy’s Lenox Square in Atlanta and Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco.
In Philadelphia, Macy’s Center City will continue holiday traditions including its annual Christmas Light Show, the company stated, as well as Santa’s return and the iconic Dickens Village, which incorporates animated displays telling the story of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” Macy’s Dickens Village will welcome visitors from Friday, November 25 through Saturday, December 31 with advance reservations required for entrance, again available on macys.com/HolidayCelebrations.
Since 1874, Macy’s noted that it has created whimsical window displays, and a new theme will adorn the windows at Macy’s State Street, Macy’s Herald Square and Macy’s City Creek Center, featuring scenes of holiday celebrations with loved ones. In addition, select Macy’s stores nationwide will bring toys to life with animated windows featuring gifts from Toys “R” Us at Macy’s.
“With dazzling displays and treasured traditions, Macy’s continues to delight generations as the destination for holiday magic,” said Will Coss, Macy’s VP of branded entertainment. “We welcome the holiday season with the return of visits with the one-and-only Santa Claus, Macy’s Great Trees, animated windows and more. We are delighted that these cherished experiences continue to create fun, whimsical and unforgettable memories for the whole family.”
