Santa to help light up Elmhurst's Wilder Park

With Christmas just a few weeks away, Santa is expected to take a break from his busy schedule at the North Pole to visit Elmhurst Thursday night for the city's annual tree-lighting.

With his sleigh still up north, Santa will arrive on a fire truck and then come up on stage with park board members to lead the countdown to the lighting, said Kari Felkamp, Elmhurst Park District's marketing and communications director.

The lights on the city's community tree, standing tall in the center of Wilder Park on Prospect Avenue, will go on at 5:45 p.m., along with those on 60 other trees brought in for the season to line the park.

Felkamp said it's become a tradition for community organizations and families to decorate the trees.

Just before Santa arrives, a holiday singalong will begin at 5:30 p.m. The Wilder Mansion will open at 6 p.m. to provide a respite from the cold, along with craft projects. The nearby conservatory also will be open to show off its latest flower display that continues through Jan. 6.

For those ready to brave the winter elements, a few new outdoor games have been added to the event this year, including a pin-the-tail-on-the-snowman-style contest and another one reminiscent of tick-tack-toe, Felkamp said.

The outdoor stage will feature a 6 p.m. performance by the Hawthorne Elementary School Children's Choir.

Another new feature this year is the appearance at 6 p.m. of Elsa and Anna, two costumed characters from the Disney movie “Frozen.”

Santa, meanwhile, will host a meet-and-greet outdoors at 7 p.m., where visitors will find cookies and other refreshments, family photo opportunities and roaming carolers.

“It's just our way to kind of kick off the holiday season,” Felkamp said. “It kind of gets people in the spirit.”