Community groups are already announcing 2026 Breakfast with Santa events, including Dunedin, Florida on December 5 with $10 early bird tickets and Atlanta-area nonprofit FODAC on December 12 with registration opening in October. Accenture's 2026 survey found nearly 1 in 5 holiday shoppers started before August, so early promotion matters.
It's only October, but Breakfast with Santa season is already underway. City recreation departments and nonprofits across the country are posting their 2026 dates, and some are using early bird pricing to fill seats before December.
What's trending
In Florida, Dunedin Parks & Recreation has scheduled its Breakfast with Santa for Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM at the Dunedin Community Center. Early bird tickets are $10 per person through December 2, rising to $15 after that, with children 2 and under free. The event includes breakfast, crafts and entertainment, and families are encouraged to bring their wish lists.
In Georgia, the nonprofit Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) has set its Breakfast with Santa for Saturday, December 12, 2026, with ticket and sponsorship registration opening in October. The event supports FODAC's pediatric home medical equipment program, which provides mobility items to more than 300 children a year.
Why it's resonating
Holiday planning is starting earlier. Accenture's 2026 Holiday Shopping Survey, reported by Forbes, found nearly 1 in 5 consumers began holiday shopping before August, and 30% describe themselves as "memory creators." Families who plan ahead lock in their December calendars early, which gives organizers who promote early a real advantage.
Early bird pricing, like Dunedin's, is a smart way to reward those planners and get a head count before buying food.
What organizers can borrow
If you're running a school, church or community Breakfast with Santa this year, a few lessons stand out from the events already announced:
- Publish the date early. October and November are when families fill their December weekends.
- Make the price clear. Both a per-person price and free entry for little ones help families decide quickly.
- Tie it to a cause. FODAC's event shows how a clear purpose adds meaning to a ticket purchase.
- Use numbered tickets. They make head counts and early bird tracking much easier.
For groups that want to get their promotion out this month, a Breakfast with Santa flyer and ticket template with matching phone and social versions can save a volunteer's evening.
The bottom line
Breakfast with Santa remains a December staple, but the planning happens now. The groups announcing early, with clear prices and a cause, are the ones families will have on their calendars first.