Cherry Hill Mall is throwing open its doors to Santa Claus, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf and a full lineup of holiday characters this Saturday, with the Grand Court set to host a two-hour celebration that officially launches the mall's holiday season. The Santa Arrival Celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the Grand Court, located at 2000 Route 38 in Cherry Hill.
Santa himself is expected to make his entrance through the Route 38 entrance near Seasons 52, according to NJ.com. Shoppers can expect DJs spinning holiday music, face painting, crafts and stilt walkers throughout the event, alongside appearances from Rudolph, Anna and Elsa, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf.
A $10,000 Donation Highlights the Celebration
Beyond the characters and crafts, the event carries a charitable component. Cherry Hill Mall will present a $10,000 donation to the Center for Family Services at noon during Saturday's festivities, the report notes. That donation will support gift cards and other experiences for New Jersey families served by the nonprofit.
The arrival celebration also marks the unofficial start of the mall's annual Santa photo program, which kicks off a day earlier. According to Cherry Hill Mall's official event listing, Santa will be available for photos from Nov. 6 through Dec. 24. Online reservations are recommended to guarantee a time slot, though the mall says walk-ups are welcome based on availability.
Pet Photos and the Program Behind the Scenes
Pet owners get their own slice of the holiday spirit this year. The same listing notes that pet photos with Santa will be offered every Monday from Nov. 9 through Dec. 14. The Santa photo operation itself is owned and operated by Cherry Hill Programs, per the mall's event page.
Saturday's event isn't the mall's first attempt at a splashy holiday character meet-and-greet. Back in 2018, Cherry Hill Mall advertised a Rudolph and Buddy the Elf meet-and-greet, held at Grand Court on Friday and Saturday and at Macy's Court on Sunday, according to a report from the Courier Post. That weekend promotion ran 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and it included a perk for shoppers: PREIT Perks members who spent $100 could earn $20 toward a future purchase. Santa's hours that year stretched from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with scheduled breaks.
This year's Santa Arrival Celebration gives families a single concentrated window to catch the full cast of characters together before the mall's longer photo season settles into its weekly rhythm. With the $10,000 donation and the pet photo sessions added to the mix, the Nov. 7 event functions as both a kickoff party and a community gesture as the holiday shopping season gets underway at the Grand Court.
