New Lenox Brings Back Giant Santa Claus

NEW LENOX, IL - Christmas is still more than one month away, but that has not stopped the village of New Lenox from getting a jump on the holiday spirit. After all, it's a must in New Lenox. Village officials want to draw people from several area communities to stop and visit their Santa Claus. For the second straight year, the New Lenox Santa is up for the Christmas holiday season and you can't miss him.

"He is the largest lighted Santa in the United States. 36 feet tall, 18,500 LED lights, and 6 1/2 tons of Christmas Spirit!" the New Lenox Facebook page proclaims.

New Lenox Santa stands in the New Lenox Commons, 1 Veterans Parkway.

Last year's inaugural display drew considerable press coverage including stories in the New Lenox Patch and Chicago Tribune.

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"We expect this will be a major draw from many communities," New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann told Patch last year. "Those people will spend money in our town, helping local businesses and off-setting our expenses through additional sales tax."

Last year's Patch article reported that the cost for all decorations was an estimated $300,000 spread out over three years. Funds were pulled from the village's marketing budget, along with private donations.

Last week's announcement of Santa's return drew lots of reaction on the village social media site. Many people were thrilled that giant Santa was back again. Several Facebook commenters even tagged their friends, suggesting they go and bring along their children.

"That is one big Santa!!" wrote Audrey Zulanas Norville.

"Nathan and I drove by this yesterday in our travels - outstanding!" wrote Linda Zvitkovits Zuro.

"This is going to look great. Now we just need the giant snowman on the other side. They go hand in hand." wrote Kyle Plarski.

Of course, every community has a few Grinches.

A few of those people also visited the village of New Lenox Facebook page to publicly make their feelings known as well.

"Wish they put that kind of money into something more important like maybe the schools," wrote Mike Wise.

"Yah that they paid out the nose for. $100,000 that money couldn't have been used more reasonably. I'm sorry but that was a waste," wrote Lisa M Macek.

"Overdone and cheesy," wrote Mara Buncis Gallagher.

Main image via New Lenox Patch file photos; video via New Lenox Facebook page