Reindeer Games: Where to Meet Santa’s Furry Helpers

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen… But chances are haven’t seen them in person! Get in the holiday spirit while teaching your little elves a thing or two about Santa’s most important sidekicks at one of the Bay Area’s awesome events where you’ll get the chance to rendezvous with reindeer.

Photo: Academy of Sciences

‘Tis the Season for Science
Reindeer games are all part of the fun during the fourth annual winter festivities at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. As the Piazza turns white with snow and carolers fill the museum with holiday cheer, two live reindeer will be grazing peacefully in the East Garden. Pay these two antlered friends a visit and learn more about Santa’s sleigh-pullers during daily presentations of Reindeer Rendezvous. ‘Tis the Season for Science is happening now through January 4.

55 Music Concourse Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, Ca
415-379-8000
Online: calacademy.org

Photo: SF Zoo

Reindeer Romp
You know it’s the holidays when the reindeer are back at the San Francisco Zoo. Four North American caribou (named Belle, Holly, Peppermint and Velvet) will be visiting the zoo, where their handlers will be sure to give visitors the inside scoop on the real stories behind all the myths. The reindeer will romp at the SF Zoo now through January 1 daily 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway
San Francisco, Ca
415-753-7080
Online: sfzoo.businesscatalyst.com

Photo: Six Flags

Reindeer Village at Holiday in the Park
From Candy Cane Lane to Toy Land and from Snow Hill to the Main Street Festival of Lights, there’s enough holiday spirit to go around at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Santa’s reindeer characters (hint: they are awesome, but not real) will be waiting in Reindeer Village to star in photos with the young ones, before or after they’ve walked among the larger-than-life candy canes and taken a cruise through the faux snow. Holiday in the Park will be open on select days now through January 4.

1001 Fairgrounds Dr
Vallejo, Ca
707-643-6722
Online: discoverykingdom.sixflags.com

Do you know if Santa’s helpers are making any other stops that we didn’t include on our list? Share it below—we wanna know!

— Renee Macalino Rutledge, Susie Foresman and Erin Feher