It's one of the biggest questions of the holiday season in Sioux Falls each and every year.

When is Santa coming back to The Empire Mall?

We now know the answer.

Officials say Saint Nicholas will return to his Center Court location in the mall on Friday, November 15.

That will kick off almost six weeks of festivities, running through Christmas Eve:

  • Pet Photos – Bring your furry friend to the mall to pose with Santa! Happening on December 1 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Caring Santa – Exclusive event for children with special needs and their families. Reservations are required for this private, sensory-friendly experience happening on December 8 from 9 – 10:30 a.m.
  • Cookies & Cocoa with Santa – Enjoy holiday crafts, games, gift bags, hot cocoa, cookies and photos with Santa during this free event on December 14 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Children’s Home Shelter Gift Wrap Booth – Children’s Home Society volunteers will host their annual Gift Wrap Booth near Macy’s this holiday season. Shoppers can have gifts wrapped and donate to the Children’s Home Shelter—beautiful paper and ribbons included.
  • Salvation Army Giving Angel Tree – Check out the "giving tree", a tree full of ornaments that have items to purchase for those in need. If you take that ornament, you purchase the item on it and then turn in the items back at the tree.
  • Volunteers of America – Another "giving tree", full of ornaments that have items to purchase for those in need. If you take that ornament, you purchase the item on it and then turn in the items back at the tree.

The Santa Photo Experience will be open every day of the week and reservations are recommended.

KYBB-FM / B102.7 logo
Get our free mobile app

Christmas and Santa At the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls

This holiday season, The Empire Mall is welcoming additional, limited-time, shopping options during the holiday season including:

  • See's Candies
  • Northern Lights
  • Go! Calendar Go! Games
  • Kozy Blanket
  • M.I. Nuts

Later this month, the Empire Mall will switch to extended holiday hours:

  • 11/29 (Black Friday): 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 11/30: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • 12/1: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 12/2 - 12/5: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • 12/6 - 12/7: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 12/8: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 12/9 - 12/14: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 12/15: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 12/16 - 12/20: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 12/21: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 12/22: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 12/23: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • 12/24 (Christmas Eve): 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

NOTE: The Empire Mall will be closed Thanksgiving Day (November 28) and Christmas Day (December 25)

How Many of These Iconic Mall Food Court Restaurants Do You Remember?

From retro favorites to the icons that are still serving customers today, take a walk down memory lane with our roundup of the most iconic mall food court restaurants of the '80s and '90s.

Gallery Credit: Meg Dowdy

LOOK: Holiday gift crazes and fads of the past century

Stacker compiled a list of toy crazes from the past 100 years. 

Gallery Credit: Jennnifer Billock

LOOK: What Christmas was like the year you were born

To see how Christmas has changed over the last century, Stacker explored how popular traditions, like food and decorations, emerged and evolved from 1920 to 2021 in the U.S. and around the world. 

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From KYBB-FM / B102.7