Here's where you can visit and take pictures with Santa in Norman, OKC shopping malls

Santa Claus is returning to several major shopping malls in central Oklahoma this month, giving children five weeks to visit him and share their Christmas wish lists.

Brookfield Properties announced Santa will be returning to Quail Springs Mall in Oklahoma City on Thursday and Sooner Mall in Norman on Friday.

Simon Property Group announced it will be bringing back its own Santa Photo Experience to the Oklahoma City's Penn Square Mall on Friday, as well.

The shopping malls are encouraging reservations. With the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Santa will be available daily at all three locations until Dec. 24.

Santa returning to Quail Springs Mall on Nov. 18

Quail Springs Mall, which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City, will begin hosting Santa in its lower level center court on Thursday. The staff is recommending parents schedule their visit ahead of time using the Quail Springs Mall website, so that every child can be accommodated.

Walk-up visits are also available if space permits, but "the health and well-being of our staff, Santa and Guests is top priority," according to the website.

Families will be given the option of either sitting with Santa or maintaining the social distance of 6 feet, as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Quail Springs Mall will also host other activities and events throughout the holiday season, including:

• The Salvation Army Angel Tree, available daily from Tuesday to Dec. 7 near Great American Cookie Co. and Victoria's Secret. Here, customers can provide gifts for needy children whose information is included with tags hung on the tree.

• Pet Nights with Santa, every Monday evening from 4 p.m. to close, Nov. 29 to Dec. 20, in the same lower level center court in Quail Springs Mall as the everyday Santa photo opportunities. The mall suggests you reserve a time for this "paws-itively good time" with "your fur kids and grand pups."

• Holiday Choirs, which will perform classic Christmas carols and hymns in the mall's food court by its AMC Theatre on select days in early December. The local groups will sing on Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, and Dec. 8 to Dec. 10.

• Santa Cares Day, which will actually be held on two Sunday mornings, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, on the lower floor. Between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., children with special needs and their families are encouraged to visit for "sensory-friendly events" catering to them and their experiences, sponsored by Autism Speaks.

In addition, starting on Black Friday, the nonprofit organization Ally's House will be providing holiday gift-wrapping services right next to the Santa location. The organization will donate funds raised from the gift-wrapping drive to help local children with cancer.

Santa visits Sooner Mall starting Nov. 19

Santa will certainly be busy, as Norman's Sooner Mall will also start hosting photo events with St. Nick in its JC Penney wing on Friday. The mall, which is also open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., is encouraging parents to schedule ahead, too, through the Sooner Mall website.

There will be a "Mistletoe Avenue" for walk-up guests and a separate "Candy Cane Lane" for guests who reserved in advance.

"Santa's helpers," also known as Christmas elves, "have been working hard decking the halls, so don’t miss out!" reads the website. "Take photos with Santa and create magical moments for you and your family."

Similar to Quail Springs, Sooner Mall has its own holiday activities scheduled through late November to mid-December.

Those include another "Pet Nights with Santa," every Monday evening from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20, and two "Santa Cares" events on the Sunday mornings of Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., all in the same JC Penney wing of Sooner Mall.

Penn Square Mall welcoming Santa Nov. 19

Penn Square, open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Oklahoma City, will also be welcoming St. Nick for its own Santa Photo Experience beginning Thursday.

As with the other locations, the staff is encouraging visits be booked ahead of time, via the Simon Property Group website.

Christmas elves will be available onsite for further assistance, and they will be wearing masks for the duration of every visit. Signs will indicate increased sanitation expectations.

Penn Square Mall will host Christmas-related events as well, including a session for "Pet Photos" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 28, and a "Caring Santa" event from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Dec. 5.

Please note that typical store hours, especially on weekends, might vary during the holiday season. To read a complete list of the new services and enhanced safety measures for Santa's visits to these shopping centers, visit https://cherryhillprograms.com/covidguidelines.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Santa visits at OKC shopping malls: hours, pictures, COVID tips.