Where Can I Find Santa?
[Last updated in December 2024]
Your guide to Santa for both your kids and pets.
No matter if it’s seeing Santa at the mall, watching him turn on the Christmas Tree lights, eating breakfast or dinner with him or having him visit at your own home, you’re guaranteed to see him at one of the places we’ve listed below!
Where to Find Santa.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
City Santas
900 N Michigan Shops, Level 3
November 23-December 24, 2024
Navy Pier
November 29-December 24, 2024,
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Macy’s State Street
November 2-December 24, 2024
The Promontory, Hyde Park
December 7, 2024
North / Far North Suburbs
Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills
November 14-December 24, 2024
Gurnee Mills
November 22-December 24, 2024
ABT, Glenview
November 29-December 22, 2024, weekends only
Historic Downtown Long Grove
November 29-December 22, 2024,
on select days
Welton Plaza, Gurnee
December 5, 2024
Rotary Park, Lake Zurich
December 7, 2024
Santa’s Cottage, Fox Lake
November 30 & December 7 & 21, 2024
Cook Park, Libertyville
December 7 & 14, 2024
Santa’s Cottage, Mundelein
December 7, 14 & 21, 2024
Grayslake Rec Center
December 8, 2024
Grandwood Park Community Center, Gurnee
December 13, 2024
Lakefront Park Building, Fox Lake
December 15, 2024
Northwest Suburbs
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
November 7-December 24, 2024
Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont
November 15-December 24, 2024
Metropolitan Square, Des Plaines
December 6, 2024
Fischer Farm, Bensenville
December 7, 2024
Friendship Park Conservatory
Des Plaines
December 7, 2024
Usher Park Gazebo, Itasca
December 7, 8, 11 & 18, 2024
Maine Park Leisure Center, Park Ridge
December 7, 2024
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
December 14, 2024
Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines
December 14, 2024
Hoosier Grove Barn, Streamwood
December 19, 2024
Swim with Santa
Centennial Fitness Center, Park Ridge
December 21, 2024
West Suburbs
Yorktown Center, Lombard
November 16-December 24, 2024
Oakbrook Center
Now-December 24, 2024
Downtown Downers Grove
November 30-December 22, 2024
weekends only
Katherine Legge Memorial Park, Hinsdale
December 1, 2024
Community Park, Westchester
December 4-5, 2024
Wilder Park, Elmhurst
December 5, 2024
Oak Park Conservatory
December 6, 2024
Burlington Park, Hinsdale
December 6, 7, 14 & 21, 2024
The Museums at Lisle Station Park
December 7, 2024
Village Hall, La Grange
December 7, 2024
Ruggard Gazebo, Villa Park
December 7, 2024
Downtown Westmont
December 7, 2024
Downtown Oak Park
December 21, 2024
Far West Suburbs
Sonny Acres Farms, West Chicago
November 29-December 22, 2024,
Friday, Saturdays & Sundays only
Santa’s Village, East Dundee
November 29-December 23, 2024,
select days only
Cosley Zoo, Wheaton
November 30, December 7 & 14, 2024
Naperville Riverwalk, Naperville
December 2-22, 2024
Carol Stream Town Center
December 6, 2024
Downtown Warrenville
December 6, 2024
Downtown Wheaton
December 7, 14, & 21, 2024
Downtown Geneva
December 7-8, 14-15 & 21, 2024
Randall Oaks Zoo, West Dundee
December 7-22, 2024, weekends only
South Suburbs
Orland Square Mall, Orland Park
November 8-December 24, 2024
Municipal Lot, Palos Heights
December 6-7, 2024
Barrington’s White House
December 7, 2024
The Bridge, Lemont
December 7, 2024
North Aurora Riverfront Park
December 7, 2024
Splashing with Santa
Vaughan Athletic Center, Aurora
December 14, 2024
Be sure to also check your local Bass Pros Shops and Cabela’s!
Visit Santa... with Your Pet!
Photo via Getty Images
Far North Suburbs
Bark University, Mundelein
November 30 & December 1, 2024
Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills
December 2, 9 & 16, 2024
Northwest Suburbs
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
November 24 & December 1, 2024
Clayson House Museum & Library, Palatine
December 14, 2024
Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Rosemont
November 18, 25 & December 2, 2024
West Suburbs
Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook
November 18-December 10, 2024, Mon & Tues only
Yorktown Center, Lombard
November 19, December 3 & 10, 2024
Hinsdale Humane Society, Hinsdale
November 23, 2024
The Depot at Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park,
Villa Park
December 4, 2024
Community Park, Westchester
December 6, 2024
Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove
December 7, 2024
Two Bostons Pet Boutique
December 7, 2024
Naperville, Wheaton and Burr Ridge locations
December 8, 2024
Naperville, Glen Ellyn and Geneva locations
Sedgwick Park, La Grange
December 10, 2023
Cheney Mansion, Oak Park
December 14, 2024
Community Center, Berwyn
December 14, 2024
South Suburbs
Naperville Riverwalk, Naperville
December 3, 2024
Fox Valley Mall, Aurora
December 2, 9 & 16, 2024
Joy’s Best Friends Best Bites,
Orland Park
December 8 & 15, 2024
Two Bostons Pet Boutique
December 7, 2024
Naperville, Wheaton and Burr Ridge locations
December 8, 2024
Naperville, Glen Ellyn and Geneva locations
Be sure to also check the following local stores near you: Kriser’s, Bentley’s, PetSmart, Pet Plus Supplies, Petco, Tractor Supply Company, Bass Pros Shops and Cabela’s.
Hire Santa.
Photo owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
One of the best traditions we started a few years ago is hiring a Santa. It started in the winter of 2020, when a group of us parents just needed to do *something* for our kids who had been stuck home for most of the year because of the pandemic. So we hired a Santa to come do outdoor visits in our backyard! We had a simple holiday-themed backdrop, a bench placed at least 6ft apart from Santa, and scheduled 5 mins time slots for each family to come for their visit. It worked out great and everyone loved it, so we’ve continued to do it since then! We enjoy Santa in the comfort of our home now, but we still gather our friends from the neighborhood and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate together, while each family has their visit with Santa.
The company we use is Around the Town Entertainment. The owner Maureen is fantastic to work with! She responds to you quickly and is very accommodating to what your needs are. While they do book up fast, there are so many Santas to choose from, so there is higher probability to get a day and time that works for you. You can keep it simple like we do, where we just hire a Santa for one hour and he visits with each family for about 5 minutes, or you can do add-ons like having him read a story, make balloon animals, hire a Mrs. Claus to come with, or you can even hire them for 1.5 or 2 hours. And if you like your Santa, you can request the same one for your next event like we do! But either way, it’s best to book early to guarantee your Santa, day and time.