Where To See Santa In Buffalo Grove This Christmas Season

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Santa Claus will be back in Buffalo Grove this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person. In Buffalo Grove, kids have several chances:

• For kids wanting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, head on over to the Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 3. Enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast while carolers entertain you. All children have the opportunity to meet with Santa and have photos taken with. Find out more here.
• If kids want to ice skate with Santa, an event is planned from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18, at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion, 1500 Abbott Court, Buffalo Grove. Tickets start at $20. Skate with Santa and his elves. Find out more here.

Speaking of Santa, kids have one more week to send him mail through the Buffalo Grove Park District. Santa has made special arrangements with the Buffalo Grove Park District as a special helper to answer all the letters from boys and girls in Buffalo Grove. Letters will be answered to each child who drops off a letter.

Send letters to:

Santa Claus
c/o Buffalo Grove Park District
530 Bernard Drive
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Santa arrived Nov. 12 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Santa’s Wonderland and will hold court through Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged.

Santa will be at Macy’s stores in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston and Orlando. In Chicago, Santa will be at the Macy's State Street, at 111 State St. now through Dec. 24. Reservations are required and can be made up to five days in advance. Find out more here.