Santa on the Roof Durham: 2026 date, line and parking

Santa on the Roof is The Durham Hotel’s free morning with Santa on its heated rooftop, 315 E. Chapel Hill St. This year it is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and the line outside opens at 9 a.m.

Last checked 2026-11-09.

Santa Joe returns through Santas Just Like Me, a local group that has offered North Carolina families visits with a Santa of color since 2013, the hotel says. Children can post their letters in a North Pole mailbox before they meet him, and everyone leaves with a candy cane and a plastic gold coin.

Upcoming dates

• Sat. Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (line opens 9 a.m., Roof opens 9:30 a.m., line closes 1 p.m.)

The hotel lists one date for 2026.

Where it is and parking

The visit is on the Roof, the rooftop bar of The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St., in the former Home Savings Bank building downtown. The line forms outside, at the side door on the front of the hotel, with signs and a doorman marking the spot. It stays outdoors so the lobby is clear for brunch guests.

For parking, the hotel’s FAQ page points to the city’s Chapel Hill Street garage down the block, at Chapel Hill Street and Rigsbee Avenue: $2.25 an hour or $24.75 a day. Metered street spaces nearby are free on weekends, so they cost nothing on Dec. 12, but most have a two-hour limit. City meters take coins, cash, cards and the free Passport Parking app.

The Durham Holiday Parade steps off on Main Street at 10 a.m. the same morning, a few blocks from the hotel. Allow extra time to get downtown and check our road construction and closures page in parade week. Our getting around Durham guide lists the other downtown decks.

Tickets and cost

The hotel says Santa on the Roof is free and open to all. No ticket or booking is needed to see Santa.

Two things cost money, at your choice:

• Brunch in the hotel’s Coffee Bar, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with reindeer pancakes on the menu. The hotel encourages reservations.
• Hot chocolate and drip coffee are sold outside next to the newsstand for people waiting in line.

A full bar is open on the Roof for parents.

What to know

From the hotel’s event page:

• Be in line by 1 p.m. The line closes then so everyone in it can see Santa before 2 p.m. Families who arrive later will not get a visit.
• Dress warmly. You wait outside. The Roof itself is heated.
• Bring your own camera. There is no photographer; plan to take your own photos.
• Write the letter first. Bring your letter to Santa already written. The hotel keeps a small supply of paper and pencils on the Roof for anyone who forgets.

The Durham Hotel also hosts a ticketed Holiday Market on Wednesday, Dec. 9. For more Santa visits, lights and shows this season, see our holiday lights and Christmas events guide; dog owners have Santa Paws at the Durham Armory on Friday, Dec. 4.

Dates and venues as listed on the Experience Downtown Durham, North Carolina calendar and confirmed on the organizer’s site.

Frequently asked questions

When is Santa on the Roof at The Durham Hotel?

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hotel’s rooftop at 315 E. Chapel Hill St. in downtown Durham.

Is Santa on the Roof free?

Yes. The Durham Hotel says the event is free and open to all, and every child leaves with a candy cane and a plastic gold coin.

What time should we get in line to see Santa at The Durham Hotel?

The line forms outside at 9 a.m. at the side door on the front of the hotel, and the Roof opens at 9:30 a.m. The line closes at 1 p.m.; anyone not in line by then will not see Santa.

Can I take photos with Santa at The Durham Hotel?

Yes, but bring your own camera or phone. The hotel asks families to plan to take their own photos.

Where do I park for The Durham Hotel?

The hotel points to the city’s Chapel Hill Street garage at Chapel Hill Street and Rigsbee Avenue, $2.25 an hour. Street meters nearby are free on weekends.