Alexandra DeMatos

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Oct 23, 2026, 11:17 AM

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Updated

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The iconic Big Santa perched atop a chimney at Westfield Garden State Plaza each holiday season is set to return in mid-November.

Installation begins the evening of Nov. 15 and is expected to finish the following day. The annual community celebration and lighting ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 22 and will feature live performances.

According to a press release, Big Santa and his chimney stand 42 feet tall, and the display includes a size 90 boot.

The giant holiday display is made from 4-by-4-by-8-foot blocks of EPS foam, or Styrofoam, precisely cut into 197 puzzle-like pieces. A steel framework holds the sections together, while more than 200 gallons of polyester hardcoat protect the structure from the elements. Airbrush artists then hand-paint the display to create Santa’s signature look.

From the 1950s through the 1980s, Big Santa was a beloved holiday landmark at the Paramus mall. After disappearing for decades, he returned in 2018 thanks to a restoration effort by Fair Lawn-based Center Stage Productions.

According to the release, the company spent 12 weeks recreating Big Santa, combining modern technology with traditional hand-carving and sculpting techniques to preserve his larger-than-life personality.

Today, Big Santa sits near Entrance 7, next to Nordstrom, welcoming holiday shoppers each year.