The Big Guy in red will be arriving at area malls this weekend and next to help kick off the holiday shopping season.

Santa will be showing up in parades and with the help of Nickelodeon stars at the Mall at Stonecrest, the Gallery of South DeKalb and North DeKalb Mall between Nov. 21 and 27.

At the Mall at Stonecrest, it’s a Bikini Bottom Christmas Spectacular on Nov. 21, when “SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Live” will perform at four live productions to welcome Santa to his workshop in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level.

Once again, not one but three Santas will be in residence at the Lithonia mall throughout the season. Santa Jack, Santa Sam and Santa Robert will play musical big chair.

For Stonecrest customers who want an African-American Santa, Santa Sam will be in residence Monday to Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 16. After that, it will be Santa Jack, who has been the mall’s Santa since it opened in 2001, and Santa Robert, daily through Christmas Eve.

Santas are taking photos through Dec. 24 at the Mall at Stonecrest, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 678-526-8955.

Gallery at South DeKalb

At the Gallery at South DeKalb, the annual Santa parade takes place at 6 p.m. Nov. 21.

Santa Dee, who became the mall’s Santa last year, will be heralded into the mall by the Southwest DeKalb Marching Panthers. The parade kicks off in front of Conway and will proceed to the stage in front of Macy’s.

After festivities with V103’s Ryan Cameron as emcee, Santa will begin taking photos at 7 p.m. in his village at Center Court.

Visit with Santa Dee through Dec. 24, Mondays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

For more information, call 404-241-2431.

North DeKalb Mall

North DeKalb Mall’s Santa arrives at 11 a.m. on Nov. 27.

The mall has had the same Santa for 26 years.

Mary Joyce Burdge, the mall’s marketing manager, says that the parents who sat on his legs as children are now bringing their children to take photos with him.

Santa’s arrival will follow a fun interactive play directed by Jeff Baker. “Christmas With the Canes” will teach kids to remember to say thank you for the gifts they get, even if they are not what their heart desires.

Santa will take photos Mondays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 1-6 p.m. On Christmas Eve, he will be in residence from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 404-235-6444.