Santa's ready to welcome people and pets to his festive Wollongong retreat

Santa and Arley Scicluna with puppy Douglas. Santa will be available from Monday to have his photo taken with people or pets. Photos: Jen White.

They say you should never work with children or animals, but Santa has no problems with either.

Miller, 6, and Arley, 3, Scicluna had an early chat with the jolly man in red before he officially flies into Wollongong Central on Sunday (10 November) for his traditional Christmas visit.

They were joined by Douglas the German short-haired pointer as they whispered their Christmas gift requests – a “little” unicorn for Arley and a dinosaur for Miller.

Wollongong Mall and the shopping centre will come alive for the Santa parade and festivities on Sunday from 10:30 am.

Hosts Bella and Christian from i98FM will kick things off at 10:30 am before Santa makes his way up the mall at 11 am with his brass band, stilt walkers and special Christmas friends in tow. Christmas markets will be open in the mall for some early shopping opportunities.

Following a short stop at the mall stage, Santa’s parade will wind through Wollongong Central. Fans big and small will be able to meet Santa at the customer service desk and outside Coles.

Miller and Arley had a special early visit with Santa before he officially arrives in Wollongong on Sunday.

Santa’s parade will end at his festive retreat outside David Jones on level one of Wollongong Central, where he’ll take up residence on Monday until Christmas Eve for special chats and photos, including family fur babies.

Wollongong Central Centre Manager Nathan Copsey, who’s looking forward to his three-month-old daughter’s first Christmas, said the pet portrait sessions with Santa have become increasingly popular.

“We had to put on extra sessions this year to cater for the demand,” he said.

“Importantly, our Sensitive Santa photos are on again on Sundays. We keep the music down, we keep the lights down, just so everyone can enjoy that special moment.

“The sessions sold out again last year and we expect them to this year as well, so we’ve put some extra ones on.”

Sensitive Santa sessions will be held on Sundays from 17 November to 8 December, while pet portrait sessions will be available on Mondays to Wednesdays from 11 November, with weekend sessions included in December. Visit Wollongong Central for more details and bookings.