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.
Addison
Father Christmas Reveals The Legend of St. Nicholas
Thursday December 8th 2011
Sponsor: Addison Public Library
Event at: 4 Friendship Plaza
Addison, IL 60101
www.addisonlibrary.org
www.historiesforkids.com
Time: 7 pm
Cost: T/B/A
For information: (630) 543-3617
Father Christmas will be at the Addison Public Library to tell holiday stories. You will learn how the real St. Nicholas influenced traditions in different areas of the world and how they have now become part of our Christmas customs, lore and beliefs today.
Clarendon Hills
Father Christmas Reveals The Legend of St. Nicholas
Sunday, December 4th & Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
Sponsor: Notre Dame Church
Event at: 64 Norfolk Avenue
Clarendon Hills, IL, 60514
www.notredameparish.org
www.historiesforkids.com
Times: 3 pm December 4th; 4:30 pm December 6th
Cost: T/B/A
For information: (630) 654-3365
Father Christmas will be at Notre Dame Church to tell holiday stories. You will learn how the real St. Nicholas influenced traditions in different areas of the world and how they have now become part of our Christmas customs, lore and beliefs today.
Flossmoor
Father Christmas Reveals The Legend of St. Nicholas
Wednesday December 14th 2011
Sponsor: Flossmoor Community Church
Event at: 12218 Hutchison Road
Flossmoor, IL 60422
www.historiesforkids.com
www.fccfaithful.org
For information: (708) 798-2800
Time: 1 pm
Cost: T/B/A
Father Christmas will be at the Flossmoor Community Church to tell holiday stories. You will learn how the real St. Nicholas influenced traditions in different areas of the world and how they have now become part of our Christmas customs, lore and beliefs today.
Glenview
Country Christmas with Santa in Glenview
Sunday, November 27th, Wednesday, November 30th & Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Sponsor: The Grove National Historic Landmark
Event at: Pioneer Log Cabin and Redfield Estate
1421 Milwaukee Ave.
Glenview, IL 60025
www.glenviewparks.org
reservations required
For information: (847) 299-6096
Times: - call for details
Cost: $10 per person
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 Interpretive Center, then take a hike to 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 10th 2011
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 - to 3 pm
Cost: FREE SANTA EVENT
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. This event starts at 1 pm sharp, be on time.
Sunderlage Farmhouse in Hoffman Estates
Itasca
Santa at His Workshop in the Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca
Friday, December 9th & Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Sponsor: Springbrook Nature Center
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Friday, December 9th
11 am - 1:30 pm, Saturday, December 10th
Event at: 130 Forest Avenue
Itasca, IL 60143
www.itascaparkdistrict.com
For information: 630) 773-4524
Cost: FREE SANTA EVENT
Join Santa for a great day at his workshop in the historic old farm at the Springbrood Nature Center in Itasca. The Center is always beautifully decorated for the holiday season—there will be cookies and hot chocolate and time to do a craft by the fire.
Be sure to bring a camera, because you’ll want to get a picture of the kids with Santa in his sleigh.
Springbrook Nature Center Itasca
Lisle
Santa at Once Upon a Christmas in Lisle
Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Sponsor: The Museums at Lisle Station Park
3 pm - 8 pm Saturday, December 4th, 2010
11 am - 4 pm Sunday, December 5th, 2010
921 School Street
Lisle, IL 60532
www.lisleparkdistrict.org/museum.htm
reservations required
To book: (630) 969-3685
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
Naperville
Father Christmas Reveals The Legend of St. Nicholas
Sunday December 11th 2011
Sponsor: Naper Settlement
Event at: 523 Webster Street
Naperville, IL 60540
www.napersettlement.org
www.historiesforkids.com
Time: 4 pm
Cost: T/B/A
For information: (630) 420-6010
Terry Lynch, dressed as Saint Nicholas or as he is more widely known—Father Christmas—reveals the joyful holiday stories and traditions that have grown up around this 4th century bishop. Explained are the ancient rituals that have been handed down through different cultures, and incorporated into the holiday season as we know it today. A companion book. “Nicholas Comes to America—The Story of Santa Claus” is available for $10” + postage and handling.
Father Christmas
Rockford
Santa at the Midway Village Museum in Rockford
Saturday November 26th 2011
Sponsor: Midway Village
Event at: 6799 Guilford Road
Rockford, IL 61107
www.midwayvillage.com
reservations required
To book: (815) 397-9112
Time: 10 am to 4 pm - For children 5 to 12
Cost: $10 per child
Meet Santa for an exciting day at the turn-of-the-century Midway Village. Make holiday gifts, listen to stories, play games and have lunch with all St. Nick and much more in the Village, decked out for the holidays.
Schaumburg
Father Christmas on the Farm in Schaumburg
Saturday December 3rd & Sunday December 4th 2011
Sponsor: Schaumburg Park District
Event at: Spring Valley Heritage Farm
and Merkle Log Cabin
Spring Valley Nature Center
1111 E. Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194
www.parkfun.com
For Information: (847) 985-2100
Times: 1 pm to 5 pm both days
Cost: $2 per person or $8 for a family of six or less—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
Villa Park
Father Christmas Reveals The Legend of St. Nicholas
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Sponsor: Villa Park Public Library
Event at: 305 South Ardmore Avenue
Villa Park, IL, 60181
www.vppl.info
www.historiesforkids.com
Time: 11 am
Cost: T/B/A
For information: (630) 834-1164
Father Christmas will be at Villa Park Public Library to tell holiday stories. You will learn how the real St. Nicholas influenced traditions in different areas of the world and how they have now become part of our Christmas customs, lore and beliefs today.
West Chicago
Santa at Christmas on the Kline Creek Farm
Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday December 4th 2011
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: 1:30 pm to 3:30 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 weekend 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 can warm themselves by the fire while enjoying homemade spice cookies.
West Dundee
Santa at the Victorian Open House in West Dundee
Sunday, December 4th 2011
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Sponsor: Village of West Dundee
Place: Historic Centerville School
Randall Oaks Park
11 50 North Randall Road
West Dundee, IL 60118
(847) 426-2956
www.dickensindundee.org
Cost: FREE SANTA EVENT
There are Victorian themed Santa visits for kids in the historic old Centerville School located in Randall Oaks Park. The children will also enjoy making crafts
Yorkville
Santa at Christmas on the Farm in Yorkville
Sunday, December 4th & 11th 2011
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
Cost: $3.00 all ages
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 story telling, craft making, chestnut roasting, and cookie icing, and what else? A visit with Santa Claus and a chance to learn some of the history of Santa!
Please note—all of the above events are subject to change without notice