Santa returns to Woodfield; Christmas is on!
Santa's triumphant return to Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg — a day ahead of Veterans Day this year — declared the holiday season officially open Thursday morning.
Accompanied by clowns from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, stilt-walking elves and the drum corps of Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Santa's arrival was celebrated by a parade through the shopping center that ended in the central Grand Court.
There, Santa's first visitors of the season clapped eyes on Woodfield's newest winter attraction, a multi-sensory Ice Palace featuring falling snow, a light show and 360-degree video footage of polar bears, foxes, penguins and other animals exploring their native arctic landscape.
Madison Meikel, 5, of Rolling Meadows, looks for Santa through the Christmas trees as he arrives Thursday at Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Madison Meikel, 5, of Rolling Meadows yells to Santa through the Christmas trees when he arrives Thursday at Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
A giant elf and clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus marched with Santa Thursday at Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com