Parents, lean in, I can’t say this too loudly. There are many ways to handle your children’s letters to Santa Claus and they do not all involve special mailboxes to the North Pole. Then again, those adorable specially marked letterboxes are so freaking cute, you may not be able to help yourself.
This collection of Santa letterboxes is sponsored by Fourth Street Shops in Berkeley. Fourth Street also has spectacular holiday lights throughout the season, a “drive-through” parade where you stay in the car, Santa Visits, a virtual food drive, plentiful shops & restaurants, and wonderful events all December long.
Find specially marked Santa Claus letterboxes in the East Bay
Fourth Street, Berkeley
Fourth Street has a special Santa mailbox near Peet’s Coffee (pick up your hot cocoa right there or walk to Artis!). You can’t miss it! Letters with a return address will receive a reply from Santa’s Elves! No charges. Santa Claus will be there with his sleigh on 11/26, 12/3, and 12/10 from 12-4 pm. Details here.
1776 Fourth Street, Berkeley
Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda
Throughout the month of December, children can find the mailbox for Santa Claus in the median of Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda. No charge. And yes! You’ll get a magical letter back from Santa if you include a legible return address (as long as your letter is put in the box by December 21!) Oh, and it’s not exactly “on the way” but we like to swing by the Alameda In-n-Out for dinner and free cocoa if it is raining.
Christmas Tree Lane 3200 block of Thompson Ave, Alameda
Claremont Club & Spa, Berkeley
If you happen to be visiting the castle in the hills to enjoy some of their fabulous holiday events (“ice” skating, holiday tea, gingerbread houses), look for the Santa Mail Box outside near the skating rink.
41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley
5 Little Monkeys Toys & Gifts (5 East Bay locations)
Each Five Little Monkeys Toys & Gifts location has a North Pole Mailbox, and masked elves promise to deliver your letter. See details.
1240 Solano Ave., Albany |1810 Fourth Street, Berkeley | 3527 Wilkinson Lane Lafayette | 1364 North Main Street, Walnut Creek | 719A Main Street Pleasanton
Piedmont Community Hall, Piedmont
Letters to Santa at the North Pole can be dropped in a special mailbox in front of Community Hall the day after Thanksgiving and beyond. If Santa is not too busy, he will try to answer the children’s letters.
711 Highland Ave, Piedmont
Walnut Creek Arts & Rec, Walnut Creek
The City of Walnut Creek is offering personalized letters and certificates from Santa Claus for $12 (which seems reasonable for the amount of Christmas magic at play). From Nov. 7 through Dec. 7, Santa letters can be dropped off at two locations:
- Center for Community Arts – 111 North Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek at the Front Office, ring the doorbell to get inside and find the drop box.
- Downtown Library – 1644 N Broadway, Walnut Creek. Santa’s Mail Box will be outside near the back entrance where curbside book pickup is located, 24/7.
- Can’t make it to a drop-off location? No problem mail it to Civic Park Community Center –1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 94596
Make sure the letter is LEGIBLE and that the envelope includes the child’s first and last name as well as a return address that matches the registration. Each child sending in a letter must register. Santa and his elves will reply back via USPS. Details here.
Honorable Mention (Not East Bay) Thrive City Winter Wonderland, San Francisco
It looks like there’s a pretty cool mailbox for Santa at the Chase Center. So if you happen to cross the bridge to enjoy the tree lighting or some holiday shopping, it may be worth a stop. Details here >
1725 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94158
Other clever ways to send your child’s mail to the North Pole
Just Keep it
Letters to Santa Claus written in a small child’s hand are almost too cute to send away. I always photograph them and I sometimes sneak them away into a special box in the back of my closet.
Just Mail it
Did you know that some of those North Pole letters sent through the USPS get answered with personalized letters and sometimes gifts? I didn’t know that. According to this article, there are thousands of volunteers who love to respond to hopeful children.
This collection of Santa letterboxes is sponsored by Fourth Street Shops in Berkeley.
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