Admin Petco is running a full season of free in-store pet events, and the headliner is a free photo of your pet with Santa on December 12 at select stores. The holiday campaign also brings a “Naughty vs. Nice Meter” photo backdrop to all locations, so even stores without the Santa session get a fun photo op.
Before December, there are two more reasons to stop in. On November 21–22, select stores host “Petsgiving” sampling events with fresh-frozen nutrition, freeze-dried raw bites, and meal toppers from brands like Hill’s, Ollie, and Badlands Ranch, plus recipe cards so you can rebuild the bowl at home. And October is Petcoween season: deal trackers list a costume party and contest on October 17, in-store trick-or-treating from October 17–31, and a portrait day on October 24 — but dates and times vary by store, so confirm with your local Petco before heading over.
Everything here is free to attend; you just show up with your pet. For the Santa photos, arriving early is smart — free photo events draw a crowd, and select-store sessions can fill their time slots fast.
How to join
- Check the Petco Store Events page for your local store’s calendar and confirm dates.
- Bring your pet to the store during the event window — no ticket or purchase needed.
- For the December 12 Santa photos, arrive early; sessions are at select stores and run while slots last.
Event verified: 2026-10-14. Petco’s official holiday announcement confirms the free December 12 Santa photos at select stores, the November 21–22 Petsgiving sampling events, and the free in-store event lineup. Event details vary by store — confirm with your local Petco.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Completely free: Santa photos, tastings, costume events, portraits
- Pro: Runs October through December, so there are multiple chances to catch one
- Pro: No purchase, ticket, or registration needed — just show up
- Con: Santa photos are at select stores only, not every location
- Con: Dates and times vary by store and can change
- Con: Popular sessions (Santa photos especially) can get crowded
