Santa House opens Dec. 1 on Riverwalk
submitted November 21, 2012 1:46PM
Efren Perez from Romeoville, left, and Juan Quintana from Montgomery, inside, put up Naperville's Santa house at the Free Speech Pavilion in downtown Naperville on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
Santa’s Hotline
A new online registration process for the annual Santa’s Hotline kicks off Friday, Nov. 23.
Calls from Santa will be limited to the first 200 families through the Naperville Park District service. This holiday service is provided free-of-charge thanks to the help of many volunteers who make this program possible.
“We wanted to streamline the process and make it easier for our residents by offering online registration,” explained Brad Wilson, director of recreation. “In previous years, we accepted registrations via fax.”
Beginning Nov. 23, parents can complete the registration form at www.napervilleparks.org/santashotline for their children to receive a phone call from Santa. Calls will be made only between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12.
Updated: December 24, 2012 6:49AM
This week Naperville Park District staff has been busy setting up this year’s Santa House in anticipation of Santa’s extended visit to the Naperville Riverwalk during the festive month of December. The house opens Dec. 1.
“In addition to the weekend hours for the public, we will host weekday events in early December for special guests, including Military and First Responders Night, Special Needs Night, and Pet Night,” said Brett Lindahl, the Park District’s sponsorship and events manager.
Special nights at Santa House require advance registration, which may be completed at www.napervilleparks.org. The schedule is as follows:
Military and First Responders Night — 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5
Pet Night — 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6
Special Needs Nights – 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 10-12
After opening night from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Santa House will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, and on Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 8 through Dec. 23. Additionally, Santa House will remain open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday the week before Christmas, Dec. 17-21. Santa House also is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.
Admission to Santa House is free, with the option of purchasing photos for $8 each. Presented by Fifth Third Bank, Santa House also is supported by additional sponsors: Firefly Nights Photography, Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and BlackFinn. About 100 volunteers also give generously of their time.
With the distribution of the Naperville Park District’s 2013 Winter Program Guide, the community will see a kaleidoscope of holiday programs for all ages and interests. A listing of these programs is posted at www.napervilleparks.org. Popular special events this year include Candy Cane Lane on Friday, Dec. 14, Gingerbread House Decorating on Dec. 4 and 18, Skating with Santa on Dec. 8, Holiday Magic on Dec. 10, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Day Trip on Dec. 19 and 21.
For questions about the Naperville Park District and its programs and facilities, visit www.napervilleparks.org.
Courtesy of the Naperville
Park District
