Where To See Santa In Crystal Lake, Cary This Christmas Season

CRYSTAL LAKE AND CARY, IL — Santa Claus will be back in Crystal Lake and Cary this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person. In the Crystal Lake and Cary area, kids have several chances:

Santa House in downtown Crystal Lake opens for the Christmas season on Friday. The Santa House is located at the coroner of William and Brink streets and will officially open its doors for visits starting at 8 p.m. Friday following the Festival of Lights Parade, which steps off at 7 p.m. The downtown Crystal Lake Santa House will remain open through Dec. 23. Hours of operation are 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Drive-thru visits with Santa will be held on Dec. 11 at Lions Park, 1200 Silver Lake Road in Cary. You can pre-register now for a two- to three-minute visit and Santa. Santa will come to your car and take down your holiday wish lists and pose next to your car for a picture. Festive outfits, hats and car decorations are encouraged. There are a variety of time slots available for the event and the cost is $6 per car to register. You can register online here.

Santa will be stopping out to the Foxford Hills Golf Club, 6800 S. Rawson Bridge Road in Cary, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 for visits with local children. This event is free .

Santa is also planning to make appearances at this year's Merry Cary Holiday Parade & Festival in downtown Cary. Visits with Santa will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Cary Travel Express, 9 Jandus Road. The Merry Cary Parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Dec. 4 and the one-day festival includes sleigh rides, cookie decorating and story time with Santa's wife, Mrs. Claus.

Besides visiting with Santa, a hand-written note will also help make sure he knows what you want this Christmas. The Crystal Lake Park District is now accepting letters to Santa. If you include a stamped, self-addressed envelope in your child's note, Santa will send a reply before Christmas Day. Letters need to be mailed to Santa, c/0 Crystal Lake Park District, 1 East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, by 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. The Cary Park District is also accepting Letters to Santa, which can be dropped off to his mailbox, which is located in the lobby of the Community Center, 255 Briargate Road, Cary, by 6 p.m. on Dec. 4. The letters can also be mailed to Santa Claus, c/0 Cary Park District, 255 Briargate Road, Cary, IL 60013. All letters must include your child’s name, age, address, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope so Santa can write your child back.

Santa arrived Nov. 12 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Santa’s Wonderland and will hold court through Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged.

Santa will be at Macy’s stores in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston and Orlando. Santa will be visiting Chicago area malls as well:

• Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Mall: Santa has already arrived and will be at the mall through Dec. 24. Reservations can be made online.
• Hawthorn Mall, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills: Santa has already arrived and will be at the mall through Dec. 24. Reservations can be made online.
• Spring Hill Mall, 1072 Spring Hill Mall, West Dundee. Santa will arrive on Nov. 26 and remain at Spring Hill Mall through Dec. 24. Reservations can be made online.