The Merry Makers spread holiday cheer in Vernon Hills

Snow fell softly Wednesday around 6-year-old Nika Titova and Merry Maker Kaitlin Fleharty inside Westfield Hawthorn Mall, giving a sense of the awe and wonder of the season.

Since Black Friday, the Merry Makers have been surprising shoppers with songs and little dances, treats, carrying their shopping bags, free gift wrapping, retailer gift card give-a-ways and even making purchases for tired customers.

"It's really wonderful. It is really fun to surprise shoppers with goody bags and to do the little dance show that we do a couple of times a day," said Fleharty with a smile, She is dressed in red and carrying an oversized candy cane. "The goody bags have chocolate, coffee mugs, little craft toys and stickers for the kids that smell like peppermint."

Flaherty and her merry partner, Brent Hildreth, wandered the Vernon Hills mall stopping to talk to families, handing out candy, and, occasionally, making it snow.

"I think it was cool that they handed out candy because kids like to eat candy," said Mackenzie Arnold, 6, of Lindenhurst after meeting the Merry Makers. "She was really pretty."

Christmas Eve was the final day for the Merry Makers to spread their holiday cheer at the Vernon Hills mall.

Westfield is donating $1 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital every time a guest shares a photo with the #makememerry hashtag, for a maximum total donation of $10,000.