FILE - Union Square and Macy's on May 13, 2025. 

The holiday season in San Francisco is usually marked by three rites of passage at the Macy’s in Union Square: the debut of a towering Christmas tree, adoptable puppies and kittens in the windows courtesy of the SPCA, and a visit from Santa as he takes his seat in the iconic department store and asks long lines of children what they want for Christmas.

But this December marks the end of an era. Santa won’t be making an appearance at the San Francisco store for the first time in nearly 80 years, save for a brief absence during the pandemic.

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“Instead, he will be going on a national tour to visit stores and communities he hasn’t had a chance to appear in before, following his national arrival at the (New York) Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Macy’s officials wrote in a statement first reported by the Chronicle. (The Chronicle and........

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