Santa from Times Past
Santa has a long and interesting history in America. If you are nostalgic, and yearn for that Christmas of long ago, then you’ll want to check out the Santa events mentioned below. Here are some of the places in Northern Illinois and the Chicago area that like to preserve the traditional ways holiday’s were once celebrated. Find out what Christmas was like in the early days of this country, up until the first part of the twentieth century. You can visit quaint villages, historic farms, museums and homes that offer history of Santa type activities that will evoke wonderful feelings for yule times of Santa from times past. See what life was really like in the days before everything became commercialized.
Chicago
Santa at Historic Holidays in Chicago
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Sponsor: Glessner House Museum
Event at: 1800 S. Prairie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
www.glessnerhouse.org
To book: (312) 326-1480
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Cost: $10.00 per child, $2.00 per adult - museum members, $8.00 per child - Be sure and bring your camera, there is no photographer on site.
The Glessner House, completed in 1887 is the only surviving Midwest building by noted architect Henry Hobson Richardson and was considered a radical departure from the traditional nineteenth century architecture of the era. This lovely old home is exquistely decorated with mostly original family furnishings, and of course during the Christmas season with beautiful period holiday decorations, its exquisite, oak-paneled interior and attractive granite exterior. On one special afternoon of the year parents can bring their children to the Clarke and Glessner House Museums and go back to another time. They will create holiday crafts, make cookies, play old-fashioned parlor games, enjoy stories, and of course—meet with Santa in all this Victorian splendor. One of the highlights of the afternoon is an old fashioned sleigh ride pulled by a team of horses. The perfect way to spend a December day.
Interior Glessner House Museum
Glenview
Country Christmas with Santa in Glenview
Monday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 3rd, 2009
Sponsor: The Grove National Historic Landmark
Event at: Pioneer Log Cabin
1421 Milwaukee Ave.
Glenview, IL 60025
www.glenviewparks.org
reservations required
To book: (847) 299-6096
Time: - call for details
Cost: $10 park district resident, $12.50 non-resident
You can step into the Santa from past times activities at one of the area’s most unique outdoor history and nature museums. First you meet at the grove's pioneer log cabin in the woods to help decorate the Christmas tree, make crafts and enjoy the sights and sounds of a country Christmas. After that, take a walk to the historic Redfield Center to enjoy refreshments, decorate cookies & visit with Santa and have your picture taken with the old fellow.
Pioneer Log Cabin at the Grove
Hoffman Estates
Santa at the Teddy Bear Holiday Tea in Hoffman Estates
Saturday December 12th 2009
Sponsor: Historical Sites Commission
Event at: Sunderlage Farmhouse
11775 Vista Lane
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
www.hoffmanestates.org
reservations required
To book: (847) 781-2606
Time: 1 pm
Cost: T/B/A
The Teddy Bear Holiday Tea is a Hoffman Estates tradition that is held every December in the historic Sunderlage Farm House which dates from 1856. It was originally part of the Volkening farm and now has been designated a historic site. The Christmas tree in the farmhouse is decorated with teddy bears whose popularity goes back to the time of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. According to legend, he let a bear cub go during one of his hunting trips. Because of numerous newspaper stories and articles from that era, teddy bears then became a thing of affection for small children. As every child knows, “teddy bears have lost none of their popularity, even in this day and age. Santa will join in the festivities at the Teddy Bear Holiday Tea, where there will be plenty of refreshments—each child who attends will receive a gift.
Sunderlage Farmhouse in Hoffman Estates
Lisle
Santa at Once Upon a Christmas in Lisle
Saturday, December 5th & Sunday, December 6th, 2009
Sponsor: The Museums at Lisle Station Park
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Saturday, December 5th, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 6th, 2009
921 School Street
Lisle, IL 60532
reservations required
To book: (630) 969-3685
www.lisleparkdistrict.org/museum.htm
The museum hosts a great day from the past for kids where they will find Santa at an 1800's era Christmas celebration. Activities at the Lisle Station Park include old-time crafts, music, brick oven baking, a model trains display from by gone days, along with snacks and hay rides.
The Museums at Lisle Station Park
Rockford
Santa goes to Holiday Traditions
at Midway Village in Rockford
Saturday December, 5th & Sunday, December 6th 2009
Sponsor: Midway Village
Event at: 6799 Guilford Road
Rockford, IL 61107
www.midwayvillage.com
reservations required
To book: (815) 397-9112
Time: To be advised
Get in the Santa from times past with a Victorian Christmas in the turn-of-the-century Midway Village. Make gingerbread houses, listen to carolers, visit St. Nick and much more in the Village, decked out for the holidays.
Schaumburg
Father Christmas on the Farm in Schaumburg
Saturday & Sunday December 5th & 6th 2009
Sponsor: Schaumburg Park District
Event at: Volkening Heritage Farm
Spring Valley Nature Center
1111 E. Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194
www.parkfun.com
reservations required
For Information: (847) 985-2100
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm
Cost: $2 per person or $8 for a family; children 3 and under are free
This is a chance to return to Christmases of the 1880s for a look at when Schaumburg was a rural farm community. Both adults and children can experience what it was like to prepare a Christmas meal on a wood stove. Also, see what farm chores had to be done, and participate in old time holiday activities and games of the 1880s, as well as visit the farm’s livestock. Authentically dressed interpreters welcome and lead visitors through the site. Children will never forget their visit with the traditional Father Christmas—the forerunner of today’s Santa Claus, at the gaily decorated log cabin.
The log cabin at Volkening Heritage Farm
West Chicago
Santa at Christmas on the Kline Creek Farm
Saturday, December 12th 2009
Sponsor: Forest Preserve Districtof DuPage County
Event at: Kline Creek Farm
1N600 County Farm Road
West Chicago, IL 60185
www.dupageforest.com
reservations not required
For Information: (630) 876-5900
Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Cost: FREE SANTA EVENT
The Kline Creek Farm is farm life as it existed in the 1890’s on an Illinois farm. Costumed interpreters help recreate life as it was really lived in those days. On one day in December you get to come to the farm and see what a nineteenth century Christmas was like. You’ll learn the origins of some eary holiday traditions. The children can visit with a Santa from another time and then have their picture taken in a sleigh. They will be shown how to make a cornucopia decoration while warming themselves by the fire, caroling and sipping a spicy cup of hot cider.
Yorkville
Santa at Christmas on the Farm in Yorkville
Saturday, December 5th & 12th 2009
Sponsor: Lyon Farm and Village
Event at: Rt. 71
Yorkville, IL 60560
www.kchs.us
Yorkville, IL 60560
reservations required
To book: (630) 553-6777 or 1-630-554-3064
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
This is a working farm and village with farmhouse, school, town hall, train depot, general store and blacksmith. One of the special events every year is Christmas at the Farm with hay rides, craft making, chestnut roasting, and cookie icing, and what else? A visit with Santa Claus and learn some of the history of Santa!
Please note—all of the above events are subject to change without notice