Where's Santa in Bellevue?

It's the season for Santa pictures! Are you planning to have your kids' photos taken with the big guy this year? Here are a few places in Bellevue where you can get your Kris Kringle fix:

The Bravern

The Bravern has several Santa events, that can keep your kids enchanted through the holidays.

Photos With Santa

Santa will be at the Bravern in Building Two on Level Two Wednesday - Sunday from noon - 6 p.m.  (through Dec. 11) and then every day from 12 - 6 p.m. Dec. 14 - 24. Enjoy a free cupcake from Trophy Cupcakes with the purchase of any photo package. Photo packages start at $19.99.

Letters to Santa

Sometimes it's nice to practice the art of writing a letter. You can write an old-fashioned letter to Jolly Old St. Nick at Silberman Brown Stationers and drop it in Santa's special mailbox or hand it directly to him when you visit. Available every day during holiday shopping hours.

Breakfast with Santa

Kids and adults can join Santa at breakfast at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus at 9 a.m. Dec. 10 for a unique holiday memory. Breakfast is $50 for adults and $35 for children and includes complimentary photo with Santa. Please call 425.452.3333 for reservations.

Newport Hills Holiday Bazaar and Santa Visit

Santa is dropping by Newport Hills at the holiday bazaar that starts at 8 a.m. Saturday Dec. 3. Little ones can give their wish list to Santa and snap photos with him between 10 a.m. and noon. Families can stay for lunch at one of the local restaurants and mail those packages at . You can also drop off a nonperishable donation for the local food bank. The event will be at 5620 119th Ave SE, Bellevue.

Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center

has several great incarnations of Santa working through Christmas Eve -- when he has to take off, of course. Santa's schedule at Crossroads Bellevue is here, and his break is from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. through Dec. 24.

Market Place at Factoria (Factoria Mall)

Santa will take his place at the in the South Concourse (the end of mall with the KidsQuest Children's Museum) through Dec. 24. The hours are:

• Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Sun 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Bellevue Square (Bellevue Collection)

Stroll through Santa’s Workshop to capture a photo moment with Santa. Pictures with Santa. Photo packages start at $21. Call Arthur and Associates at 206-783-5227 or visit santaphotos.com. Questions about photos? Call 425-747-0395. Santa will be there through Dec. 24, Second Level, Center Court at

Santa's Village at Samena Swim and Recreation Club

Santa is dropping by Samena Swim and Recreation club during a winter celebration. The day starts with snowman pancakes and holiday crafts. Santa drops by for milk and cookies. Families should bring a camera. The celebration starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday Dec. 10, at , 15231 Lake Hills Blvd, Bellevue. Tickets are $40.

Tracking Santa

Some people simply can't wait 'til Christmas morning to find out if Santa Claus gave them a visit.

For those who are impatient, don't worry. You can keep tabs on the big guy by following the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, website dedicated to Claus' coordinates.

(Click here to visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website)

But the site is more than an enhanced GPS. It also contains a "Kids Countdown Village," which offers games, activities and other features for young ones who are eager for Santa.

The reason NORAD tracks Santa, according to its website, is this:

For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for children to call Santa misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.

Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to phone calls and emails from children all around the world. In addition, we now track Santa using the Internet. Millions of people who want to know Santa’s whereabouts now visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website.

Finally, media from all over the world rely on NORAD as a trusted source to provide updates on Santa’s journey.