Santa Visits Merrifield Garden Center!

This year Santa is visiting all three of our stores! He is bringing his traditional Storytime with Santa event to our Fair Oaks store, decorating cookies and taking photos with families at our Gainesville store and visiting our Merrifield Store to take photos with customers. Santa will also offer a special Paws with Claus event where your beloved fur family can take their photos with Santa!

Attendance is limited at these events, and registration is required. Adults must accompany their children to all events. Sign up for the following events is available from this page:

  • Storytime with Santa, at the Fair Oaks Store
  • Cookies with Santa, at the Gainesville Store
  • Paws with Claus, at the Gainesville Store

Sensory Friendly Santa Visit
We are pleased to offer a sensory-friendly Santa event this year. Please call Sally Tickell, Manager of Education and Events, at 703-239-4710 for more information on this program.

Storytime with Santa

Fair Oaks Store: 12101 Route 29, Fairfax, VA 22030

Santa tells Christmas stories, sings songs and holds a press conference where children can ask him questions. This event lasts approximately 1 hour.

1 ticket is needed per child. All children will have a brief opportunity to talk to Santa and have their photo taken. Ticket proceeds benefit Child Life Services at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital.

  • Saturday, November 30, 10:00 am – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, November 30, 12:00 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Friday, December 6, 6:30 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Friday, December 13, 6:30 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, December 14, 10:00 am – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, December 14, 12:00 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Wednesday, December 18, 6:30 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Friday, December 20, 6:30 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Sunday, December 22, 1:00 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Sunday, December 22, 3:00 pm – SOLD OUT

Cookies with Santa

Gainesville Store: 6895 Wellington Road, Gainesville, VA 20156

Decorate Christmas cookies with your family, visit with Santa and get your photos taken in this interactive Christmas event.

1 ticket is needed per child. All children will have a brief opportunity to talk to Santa and have their photo taken. Ticket proceeds benefit Child Life Services at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital.

  • Saturday, December 7, 10:00 am – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, December 7, 12:00 pm – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, December 21, 10:00 am – SOLD OUT
  • Saturday, December 21, 12:00 pm – SOLD OUT

Paws with Claus

Gainesville Store: 6895 Wellington Road, Gainesville, VA 20156

Bring your dogs for a special photos with Santa! This event takes place in a covered location outside, rain or shine.

1 ticket is needed per family. This event is free to attend but space is limited. Donations will be taken on December 14 to benefit Friends of Homeless Animals.

  • Saturday, December 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – FEW TICKETS LEFT – Get Tickets
  • Sunday, December 22, 2:00 -4:00 pm – Get Tickets