NEARLY 400 CHILDREN and adults walked through the front door of the Children’s Museum of Stockton on a recent Saturday afternoon as Santa Claus paid a short visit to the museum.
Downtown Stockton Alliance partnered with the Children’s Museum to host the Dec. 9 Christmas at the Museum event where families could meet Santa, write him letters and take photos with him for free between noon and 4 p.m.
A family of four siblings attempt a group photo with Santa Claus at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. Even when the poses didn’t come out quite right, there was no charge for a retake. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Ellie Ring, 2, cries for her mother as she and Carson Gardner, 11, take a photo with Santa Claus at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Ellie Ring, 2, cries for her mother as she and Carson Gardner, 11, take a photo with Santa Claus at Children’s Museum of Stockton. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Mattie Starkley tickles her grandson Z’kharie Walters to make him smile for a photo with Santa at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Beatriz Davis hands over newborn Marcelo Lepez to Santa Claus for a keepsake photo at Children’s Museum of Stockton. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Maliyah Lisojo, 3, smiles for a photo on Santa’s lap, while her brother Christian Lisojo, 1 , bursts into tears at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Yael Rivera, 4, waits in line to meet Santa Claus at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Azaliah Lisojo, 5, waves Santa Claus a goodbye after meeting him at Children’s Museum of Stockton on Dec. 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
The only fee charged was for entering the museum, after which the children could explore the exhibits, play or take part in Christmas crafts.
“Some of the places that charge for pictures with Santa are too expensive for some people,” said Michael Huber, executive director of Downtown Stockton Alliance. “Every kid deserves a picture with Santa Claus, so we decided to host the event to give everybody a picture with Santa Claus.”
The museum hosted two years of Santa night in the past, where children could visit Santa for one evening. The collaboration allowed for the museum’s first ever event to take photos with Santa Claus.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
