The Village of Rochester Hills is set to flip the switch on more than 800,000 lights next Friday, Nov. 20, marking Santa Claus's first appearance at the outdoor shopping center for 2026. The annual Light The Village celebration runs that evening, and meeting Santa is free for all ages, with organizers encouraging visitors to bring their own cameras.
According to The Village of Rochester Hills, the shopping center will be covered with over 800,000 dazzling-colored lights for the occasion. The official event page names Jay Towers, a WJBK-TV FOX 2 morning show anchor and WNIC-FM 100.3 host, as the special emcee for the evening. The same page frames Santa's appearance that night as his first for the year, and it specifically invites families to bring a camera since photos with Santa are free for all ages.
Special Visits for Kids With Sensory Needs and Pets
The celebration isn't the only chance to see Santa this month. A dedicated visit for children with special needs is scheduled for the following day, Saturday, Nov. 21, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to Oakland County Moms. Per WXYZ Channel 7, families attending that special needs day receive extra time and assistance, and guests needing accommodations can meet a Santa experienced with sensory, physical, or other developmental needs.
Pet owners get their own turn the day after that. Santa pet photos are set for Sunday, Nov. 22, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the same local outlet reports, giving pet day guests a chance to bring their animals to The Village for photos with Santa. Oakland County Moms notes that reservations are not required for any of the Santa visits, since they operate as walk-up events.
No Photographer, But No Cost Either
Unlike some mall Santa setups, there's no professional photographer stationed at The Village. The same source explains that Santa photos are always free at The Village of Rochester Hills because visitors get to take their own pictures, keeping the cost down but putting the camera duty on families themselves.
The free Santa visits continue well beyond opening weekend. Per WXYZ Channel 7, Santa will also be available on Friday, Nov. 27, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again on Saturday, Nov. 28, from noon to 8 p.m. — a date and time range also confirmed by Oakland County Moms. Sunday, Nov. 29 brings another visit from noon to 6 p.m., and the schedule rolls into December with stops on Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, according to the station's report.
Final Stretch Runs Through Christmas Eve
The visits wind down close to the holiday itself. WXYZ Channel 7 reports a Wednesday, Dec. 23 visit from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — a date also listed by Oakland County Moms — followed by a final Christmas Eve visit on Thursday, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those sessions are described as free walk-up visits at Santa's Snug pop-up in Festival Park, where the same report says visitors can meet Santa, take photos using their own cameras, and leave Christmas wish lists in the mailbox.
A separate C&G Newspapers account of the celebration, which does not specify its year, describes a broader holiday season at The Village that includes free weekly walk-up visits to see Santa running from mid-November through Christmas Eve, underscoring how the shopping center has leaned into the tradition year after year.
