Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the Northern Lights Santa Academy? Our school sessions are held twice a year and are held at various hotel locations throughout the greater Atlanta area. The location of the current session will be listed on the School/Registration page.

The closest airport to the Northern Lights Santa Academy is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  For more information about the airport and ground transportation options from the airport, please click here to visit our Getting to the Northern Lights page.

Can my non-registered spouse/guest attend classes?  All classes, lectures, and workshops are for registered students only, and badges will be required for admittance. However, non-registered spouses/guests can purchase a meal pass to join us for meals.  Non-registered spouses/guests may also visit the vendor area.  Please email us at Staff@NorthernLightsSantaAcademy.com for a vendor pass, or to purchase meals for your spouse/guest.

Is there an age requirement to attend as a student?  We do not have an official age requirement to attend school, so each request for a student under 18 to attend will be handled on an individual basis.  We do not allow children of any age who may be disruptive or have attention issues that would distract our other students or disturb the class. Any minors who are permitted to attend must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who also must register for school.

Who are the students who attend NLSA?  Our students are individuals seeking to be professional Christmas performers as well as an occasional individual who just wants to learn more about Christmas and take the experience with them to enjoy the holiday season even more. We have been blessed to have the second largest Christmas performers academy in the US and have reached international recognition. We have had students from several countries across the globe.

What do I bring to school? The most important items to bring are a warm heart, a smile, an inquisitive attitude and a twinkle in your eye.  You should also bring notebook paper and a pen for note-taking.

What is the dress code for school?  Dress code for school is casual so please dress comfortably for class (jeans/shorts and T-shirts are fine). While we try to keep the meeting rooms at a comfortable temperature for everyone, the room may feel warm or cold to you, so it's advisable to dress for a warmer room and bring a jacket or sweater in case you get cold. You may want to bring some "dressier" wardrobe for the class photo, although it is not required and most students dress casually. For our late Summer/Fall session dress for reindeer photos is a personal choice - you can be casual or bring your professional attire.  Please note that all students MUST wear their Northern Lights Santa Academy badge (given at check-in) for admittance to all classes and workshops.

Do I need to have purchased a Santa suit prior to school?  No, a suit is not necessary for attendance.  In fact, we encourage you to hold off on purchasing your wardrobe until after you have attended school.  At school you will learn about what you will need and what the various wardrobe options are from our instructors, vendors, and even other students.

Do I need to have a real beard to attend school?  Absolutely not.  We welcome both real-bearded and traditional-bearded Santas.  And even if you plan to be a real-bearded Santa, if you have not grown your beard yet that is perfectly fine.

Can I record or film during Santa school?  Individual photographs are allowed, however no videotaping is permitted. Recording or filming of classes, lectures or workshops is not permitted as our school materials are proprietary. Anyone violating this policy will be asked to leave. 

Are hotel accommodations included in the tuition cost?  No, if you plan to stay at the hotel during school, you must make your own reservation for a sleeping room.  The link to reserve a room in our discounted room block can be found on the School/Registration page.