Above / By day, Santa’s Naperville Workshop is getting ready to open at 4:30PM for reservations, now through Dec. 23.
The Naperville Park District will introduce Santa’s Naperville Workshop for the 2020 holiday season, taking the place of the Riverwalk Santa House, formerly located along Jackson Avenue at Webster Street. Registration for this socially-distanced Santa event, following safety protocols, begins at noon Mon., Nov. 23. (Summer photo courtesy Naperville Park District)
The Naperville Park District is preparing to introduce a brand-new Santa event for 2020 in light of COVID-19 restrictions. Santa’s Naperville Workshop will occupy the Riverwalk Café located on the Riverwalk at the base of Rotary Hill near the Paddleboat Quarry. The Riverwalk Café will be transformed into a wonderful, magical holiday destination that visitors of all ages will enjoy.
Santa’s Workshop is an outdoor event where visiting families will remain outdoors and peer through the windows of Santa’s workshop. Be sure to bundle up if temperatures are frigid in the night air.
Each family will enjoy a short, live conversation with Santa using special North Pole technology. Families are encouraged to be prepared to take their own photos and video of their experience as an event photographer will not be onsite for 2020.
“We’re very pleased to introduce a new event and fun way for families to enjoy the annual tradition of a visit with Santa, given the constraints presented by the pandemic,” explained Andrea Coates, superintendent of recreation. “We hope that Santa’s Naperville Workshop will brighten holiday spirits as we look forward to a different kind of seasonal celebration this year.”
Appointments scheduled from 4:30 to 8:30PM Dec. 2 through Dec. 23
The multi-day event will run from 4:30 to 8:30PM Wed., Dec. 2 through Wed., Dec. 23. Advance registration is required and onsite registration or walkups are not available.
Residents can register online beginning Mon., Nov. 23 at noon; nonresident registration begins Tues., Nov. 24 at noon.
Event link and registration
Event link and registration information is available at napervilleparks.org/santasworkshop. The cost to attend is $10/residents and $15/nonresidents. Spots are limited, so be sure to register early.
Special Visit Nights Continue in 2020
Per annual tradition, the Park District also will host Special Needs Nights on Wed., Dec. 2 and Thurs., Dec. 3 for families with children who have special needs, hosted by Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA); additionally, Military and First Responders Night will be held Wed., Dec. 9. Registration for these special nights also will be available on the Santa’s Naperville Workshop webpage.
Santa’s Naperville Workshop is made possible by several community partners including presenting sponsor Woody Buick GMC.
Follow local safety protocols
The Park District reminds anyone attending a Park District event or visiting a facility to be familiar with and follow the District’s COVID-19 participation guidelines for programs and facilities.
Santa appears to be everywhere this time of year…
Editor’s Note / ‘Tis the ho-ho-holiday season when Santa and his many helpers appear to be everywhere! Click here to check PN’s calendar of traditional events Thanksgiving weekend and to see other times when Santa visits in December, also with local safety protocols top of mind. For example, Santa’s helpers are scheduled outside in the Judd Kendall VFW Post Parking Lot on Dec. 4, and, weather permitting, on the patio at Quigley’s Irish Pub in downtown Naperville on Dec. 13. Dress in holiday attire and remember to BYOC… Bring Your Own Camera.
