Did you get your photo taken with Santa when you were a kid? Magical, wasn’t it? Sitting on the lap of some random bloke in an ill-fitting beard and a red and white suit stained with baby tears, who pretended to care that you wanted a Barbie Dream Camper for Christmas. 

Well, now you can relive that delightful childhood moment, and get some tasty meatballs, too. From Friday, November 18 until Sunday, November 20, between 10am and 3pm each day, the IKEA store in Sydney’s Tempe will transform its dining hall into a festive photo setting where shoppers can get a free photo with Santa. You’ll get two postcard-sized photo prints of your encounter, plus a free IKEA hotdog or cup of the chain’s famous meatballs.

However, there is a caveat. This Santa will not be decked out in red and white. Instead, he’ll be wearing a suit of blue and yellow – IKEA’s brand colours. (Who said Christmas was a corporate invention? Preposterous!) And so, we feel it important to send a message to all the confused children out there: don’t panic – Father Christmas just got a bit confused, and accidentally forgot to separate his colours when he did the laundry last week.

Red and white or blue and yellow, I’ll definitely be paying a visit. Maybe this year, I’ll finally get that Dream Camper…

To book a free photo with Santa at IKEA Tempe, please visit the IKEA website. But get in quick to secure your spot – Santa’s a busy man, people.

Related story: The $3.50 IKEA item that’s becoming a travel essential