For the last two Christmases families in Normal have been missing out on the yearly tradition of the Santa Station.
With the Covid-19 pandemic putting life on hold the annual event was as well. Taking place in Uptown Normal, the Santa Station returns for the first time since 2019 at 12:30 pm Saturday near the Uptown Normal Station.
“People have missed out on the joy of congregating and everybody being in the holiday spirit together,” Morgan Schulte Normal Civic Arts Specialist said. Everybody’s been so isolated for the past several years. I think there’s just been this sweeping loneliness and now we’re back to it.”
For the return of the Santa Station, Schulte is looking to add several key components to its return.
This year the station will provide live music, activities and more for the kids waiting to talk to Santa. These new events include live performers singing Christmas carols, face painting, hot chocolate and holiday arts and crafts.
Schulte finds this part of the station key to ensure that families have something to do while waiting for Santa.
“My thinking on these experiences is children and families are going to be standing in line for quite a while if it is a busy day, so we do this so they have something to do,” Schulte said. “I think it provides an extra thank you to the community. They show up for us, we want to show up for them.”
Along with the work by the City of Normal, other charities will be out at the station to help provide support. Several organizations throughout Bloomington are sponsoring days with the proceeds going to a charity of their choice. While the event is free, donations are encouraged to help the non-profits picked by the sponsor.
Santa Station was started in 2013 thanks to then Normal Manager Joe Tully. Looking to provide a unique experience for families, Tully decided to set up his Santa Station differently than most. Tully connected the event to Uptown’s Station by putting the waiting line inside the station. This gives the town of Normal a chance to provide shelter for those families that are waiting.
“It’s always been unique in the sense that it’s a small building in the plaza,” Normal’s now Civic Arts Manager Adam Fox said. “Having that idea of having a separate space is what makes it really unique. You go there and it is not like you are divided by a wall and everyone is in line. It is always like a unique visit, it is like going into your own space with Santa.”
The execution has worked so well there has been no reason for the group to change that approach over the last nearly 10 years.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot of need to change because it has worked so well in execution,” Fox said. It really does give people a very private moment where it’s really their family and Santa.”
This year’s Santa Station kicks off at 12:30 Saturday and will be in Uptown every weekend until Christmas.
Santa Station Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 3 – Grand Opening
12:30-4 p.m.
hosted by Normal Police Department
benefiting Special Olympics
with live music by Mike Gardner and Sarah Quah
featuring face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Sunday, Dec. 4
1-4 p.m.
hosted by Pepper Ridge PTO
benefiting Pepper Ridge PTO and Special Olympics
with live music by Marcos Mendez
featuring a letters to Santa activity
Thursday, Dec. 8
5-7 p.m.
hosted by Bloomington Pub Club Rotary
benefiting Project Oz
with live music by Kyle Yap
featuring a holiday craft activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Friday, Dec. 9
5-7 p.m.
hosted by Radio Bloomington
benefiting Toys for Tots
with live music by ISU Clef Hangers
featuring a holiday craft activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Saturday, Dec. 10
1-4 p.m.
hosted by and benefiting NAACP
with live music by Karen B with Duane Jessie
featuring a letters to Santa activity and a hot cocoa bar by Coffee Hound
Sunday, Dec. 11
1-4 p.m.
with live music by Hot Sauce Universe
featuring a holiday craft activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Thursday, Dec. 15
5-7 p.m.
hosted by Normal Police Department, “Cocoa with Cops”
benefiting Special Olympics and Paws Giving Independence
with live music by Taylor Steele
featuring a holiday craft activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Friday, Dec. 16
5-7 p.m.
with live music by Bill Poss
featuring a letters to Santa activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Saturday, Dec. 17
1-4 p.m.
hosted by Children’s Discovery Museum
benefiting the Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation and Special Olympics
with live music by ISU String Project
featuring learning activities hosted by Museum staff and a hot cocoa bar by Coffee Hound
Sunday, Dec. 18
1-4 p.m.
hosted by Children’s Discovery Museum
benefiting the Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation and Special Olympics
with live music by Isabel Osorio
featuring learning activities hosted by Museum staff
Thursday, Dec. 22
5-7 p.m.
with live music by Tyler Sweitzer
featuring a holiday craft activity and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Friday, Dec. 23
5-7 p.m.
benefiting Special Olympics
with live music by Chloe Alexander
featuring a holiday craft and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
Saturday, Dec. 24
1-3 p.m.
with live music by James Herr
featuring a holiday craft and face painting by Wild Style Design Company
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