Celebrating the magic of the holiday season is one of our favorite things to do. You could say we sleigh the holidays. With lights that are twinkling and bells that are jingling, there is a whole lot of holly jolly happening with WDSRA this holiday season!
To start with, families had the opportunity to visit Santa at the Naperville Park District Santa’s Workshop. As proud sponsors of the special needs nights, families get a little more time to visit with the big guy while creating a memory that will carry them beyond the holidays! Special Needs Nights are designed to minimize the wait time and lessen the anxiety for everyone. Thanks to the Naperville Park District for setting aside several evenings. Also for families, WDSRA offers a Holiday Camp where children and teens can spend the holiday school break with friends. Camp days are filled with games, music, crafts, and field trips throughout the week.
For teens and adults, we have a calendar filled with events guaranteed to make the holiday bright. (Hint: these may be ideas to help your family sleigh the holidays too).
Holiday Magic takes us to Brookfield Zoo where there are twinkling lights (nearly a million of them), ice-carving demonstrations and live musical performances. We have dinner there and then stroll through the zoo enjoying it all.
Dinner and Holiday Lights finds us enjoying the best sights and sounds of the season all in the warmth of a WDSRA vehicle. After a great dinner together at a local restaurant we scope out the best Christmas lights we can find on display.
‘Tis the season for ‘ugly’ sweaters! During our Ugly Sweater Party & Hot Cocoa Bar we have a contest for the Most Festive, Most Adorable and Funniest attire. It’s an evening filled with music, dancing and decadent hot cocoa complete with all the toppings.
Perhaps the most popular event of all is the Holiday Dinner Dance. It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year when dining and dancing the night away with friends. The only thing that makes it better is a visit from both Santa and Mrs. Claus AND a commemorative gift from WDSRA.
And lastly, the NYE Extravaganza is where we say goodbye to 2021 and ring in 2022, albeit a little early, in WDSRA-style. That means appetizers, NYE noisemakers and hats, music and dancing, and an almost-midnight mocktail toast.
This is truly going to be a holiday to remember.
If you would like to support WDSRA families and participants, December is a great time to do so. Our Annual Appeal goes through December 31. Donations can be made online at www.wdsra.com. Please ask friends and family to give too.
To learn more about WDSRA programs or to apply to become a program staff member, visit www.wdsra.com or call 630-681-0962.
