Make magical memories at Woodfield Mall this holiday season
Woodfield Mall, one of the largest shopping destinations in the United States with nearly 300 retail stores, will embrace the spirit of the holiday season with a variety of family friendly events and opportunities to give back to others. The center will officially kick off the season with the arrival of Santa at the Ice Palace on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
Additional joyful activities will continue throughout the holidays including special Santa experiences, like Caring Santa and pet photos, and more.
"One of the great traditions of holiday shopping at Woodfield Mall is the annual family visit with Santa," said Heather Lloyd, director of marketing and business development at Woodfield Mall. "The Simon Santa Photo Experience, plus our family oriented events and happenings, are sure to give shoppers joy throughout the season."
This year, Woodfield Mall is pleased to present the following holiday happenings:
• Santa Arrival Celebration, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m.
Woodfield Mall will usher in the holiday season with Santa's grand arrival, featuring a parade of drummers from Conant High School leading the way as Old St. Nick makes his debut for the season. Families are invited to join in the celebration as Santa takes center stage at his unique Ice Palace joined by festive elves who will be offering kids an assortment of candy and Santa bell necklaces. Kids will also enjoy creating holiday-inspired crafts as they wait for their visit with Santa.
• Simon® Santa Photo Experience, Nov. 3 to Dec. 24
As a kick-off to the season, eager children and their families can experience the joy and magic of the holiday season with a visit to the Simon® Santa Photo Experience at the Ice Palace. Guests can save time and avoid lines by reserving their magical moment with Santa online, for a nominal fee, which will be used toward the purchase of any Santa photo package. Visit http://simon.noerrsanta.com to reserve your moment. For a full list of Santa Photo hours, visit www.shopwoodfield.com.
• Pet Photo Nights with Santa, Nov. 13 and 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Local pet owners are invited to bring their furry family members to the mall to fetch a photo with Santa as part of the center's popular Pet Photo Nights. Pets must remain on their leash while on property. Pet Photo Night will be hosted after regular mall closing and the set will get an extensive cleaning following the event to remove any potential risk to allergy sufferers. Visits with Santa are complimentary; professional photos packages are available for purchase.
• Caring Santa, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Woodfield Mall will provide children with special needs and their families with a sensory-friendly environment to safely experience the time-honored tradition and magic of Santa through the Caring Santa program. Guests must register in advance at http://simon.com/caringsanta. Caring Santa events have expanded from seven Simon malls in 2011 to 110 Simon malls today, a new high, reflecting the positive impact of this unique program.
Save the Children
Guests to every Noerr set will have another opportunity to share Santa's heart by making a donation via The Noerr Programs to Save the Children. For nearly 100 years, this non-profit has given underserved children in the U.S. a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Since this program began five years ago, Noerr has collected over $1,000,000 largely due to the generosity of Simon shoppers.
The Simon Santa Photo Experience is again sponsored by The Gymboree Corporation. The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack and Crazy 8 brands.
The 2016 Simon Santa Photo Experience and Pet Photo Nights are also sponsored by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, which is celebrating the highly-anticipated release of "The Secret Life of Pets," available on Digital HD Nov. 22 and on Blu-ray and DVD Dec. 6. Come visit the Simon Santa Photo Experience and receive a fun-filled activity sheet, a custom The Secret Life of Pets holiday headband, and watch highlights from the movie.
For more information, including a complete list of holiday hours, special events and retailers, visit www.shopwoodfield.com. You can also call (847) 330-1537. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfieldmall and follow us on Twitter @WoodfieldMall and on Instagram @WoodfieldMall.