'Santa On the Green' Draws Local Families from Around the Area

The most wonderful time of the year officially starts this Saturday (Nov. 24) when the boss man from the North Pole is due to land for Oak Lawn’s annual Santa On the Green.

The popular holiday event draws families from around the area. The free, family, holiday fun-fest kicks off at 1 p.m. as Santa arrives in style atop an Oak Lawn fire engine.

Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus (Santa's numero uno lady), and their pal Frosty the Snowman, will be escorted by Oak Lawn’s finest and bravest in a mini-parade that winds from the police station to the gazebo at Cook and Dumke.

Download the Santa On the Green flier and Google Earth map.

The family holiday event is entirely free and features children’s rides, refreshments and fun galore. Santa will be taking children’s orders and posing for pictures in the gazebo, so bring your camera.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Children can take a train ride on the mini-Polar Express, catch a flight on the mini-Jet Riders, play the Flip-A- Penguin game, go Turkey Bowling, toss a wreath and Ring the Reindeer, or take a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh.

Saturday’s weather forecast calls for partly sunny skies and 37-degree temperatures. If you get too cold, stop by the warm, heated hospitality tent. There will be free hot chocolate, egg nog and all the cookies that Santa doesn’t eat. (Don’t worry, we hear that Mrs. Claus has baked some extra batches.)

All Around Amusements will be selling funnel cakes, deep-fried Snickers bars and corn dogs.

While you’re munching on Mrs. Claus’s cookies, watch the Kolmar Elementary School Choir sing like angels.

After you’ve visited Santa, hop a ride on the free trolley and “shop small” at Oak Lawn’s 95th Street businesses for the first-ever Small Business Saturday local shopping event.

While you’re enjoying this fabulous free event with your family, you can pay it forward by bringing some canned goods and non-perishable food items to be placed in collections boxes around the village green. Food collections will be donated to local food pantries for distribution to area families facing financial difficulties.

Santa On the Green survival guide. All activities happen on Saturday, Nov. 24:

Noon – 4 p.m. – A free trolley will be picking up and dropping off visitors at the village green for Oak Lawn’s first-ever “Small Business Saturday” local shopping event. The trolley will be making designated stops at local businesses on 95th Street between Cicero and Ridgeland Avenues.

1 p.m. – Mini-parade from Oak Lawn police station at 9466 S. Raymond Ave. to the Gazebo. Santa, Mrs. Claus and Frosty will arrive atop a village fire engine.

1 to 5 p.m. – Come visit Santa and the gang in the Gazebo. Santa will taking kids orders and posing for pictures, so bring your camera.

1 to 5 p.m. – Warm up inside the hospitality tent for some face-painting and free hot chocolate, eggnog and cookies.

1 to 5 p.m. – Free children’s rides and games.

2 to 3 p.m. – Christmas Carols by the Kolmar Elementary School Choir.

Oak Lawn's Village Green is located at Cook Avenue and Dumke Drive, off of 95th Street, north of the Oak Lawn Public Library.

Don’t forget to bring some canned goods and non-perishable food items for local food pantries.