Elves will sneak into Winnetka to drop off this magical mailbox at the Winnetka Park District so children can mail their letters to Santa. The elves will pack up the mailbox Tuesday, December 20 to take back the letters to the North Pole for Santa. Don’t forget to include names and a return address to ensure the elves know where to send Santa’s response!
Buddy the Elf will be hiding out at a different park district location each week. A new clue for Buddy’s location will be posted on our Facebook page each weekday at 12pm. Every Tuesday, Buddy will pack up and find a new park to hide out at and a new set of clues for his location will be shared. Bring your camera to snap photos of Buddy in his hiding spot. Share them with us as a private message on Facebook. The first five people to share photos with us each week will receive a $10 gift card to a local Winnetka business!
Week 1: Tuesday, December 6 – Monday, December 12
Check out this year's Holiday House Decorating Contest and vote for your favorite house! The top three houses will receive a plaque and the house with the most votes will receive a gift card to a Winnetka restaurant. Voting will end at 8am on Friday, December 16, and winners will be announced on social media.
UPDATE 12/8: This event has been canceled due to inclement weather. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.
All aboard! Next stop, Winnetka Golf Club! Yes, you heard that right. Come out and watch Polar Express from your car. The movie starts at 5pm. Please arrive an hour early.
During the movie, each child will receive hot chocolate, a cookie, popcorn, and a letter they can write to Santa.
Fee: $50 per car
Wear your ugliest holiday sweater and take a few laps skating to festive holiday music. Be sure to stick around for the Holiday Skating Exhibition following the skate.
Tot through Free Skate program participants will demonstrate their skills in our annual Holiday Exhibition.
Buddy the Elf will be hiding out at a different park district location each week. A new clue for Buddy’s location will be posted on our Facebook page each weekday at 12pm. Every Tuesday, Buddy will pack up and find a new park to hide out at and a new set of clues for his location will be shared. Bring your camera to snap photos of Buddy in his hiding spot. Share them with us as a private message on Facebook. The first five people to share photos with us each week will receive a $10 gift card to a local Winnetka business!
Week 2: Tuesday, December 13 – Monday, December 19
Using a variety of sweets and candies, children will use their creativity and imagination to design and decorate a one-of-a-kind gingerbread house. Parents are strongly encouraged to stay and participate to create a lasting holiday memory. Save the clean-up for us while you enjoy some quality family time! Children may get messy, so please dress accordingly. Space for this event is limited. Register early to reserve your spot!
The agenda will be posted 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Join families, friends, and neighbors for the 26th annual Holiday Sing. Bring your singing voices, candles (or flashlights), and gather around Village Green to sing everyone’s favorite holiday songs. This event lasts approximately 25 minutes.
Bundle-up and head outside to join The Alliance for Early Childhood, the Winnetka Park District, and the BackYard Nature Center to engage in imaginative, and child-directed, outdoor free-play in the woods. Registration is preferred but drop-in attendees are welcome. Please visit theallianceforec.org a month prior to the event to register.
Dance the night away with your favorite kid(s)! Come join us at the Michigan Shores Club for our annual parent + child date night. This year we are taking our date night to the Michigan Shores Club where we will enjoy music, food, and entertainment. Be sure to register early as there are limited spots!
Registration for this event will open Monday, November 21.
Dress code: There is no required dress code for this event, but parents and children generally dress in formal attire.
Fee: $130 per couple, $65 per additional child
