Santa and Mrs. Claus brought holiday magic to Lincolnwood Saturday, hosting a crowd of families for breakfast at the Lincolnwood Community Center.
The center buzzed with festive energy as over 50 attendees of the “Breakfast with Santa” event listened to Christmas tunes, participated in a variety of activities and, of course had morning fare.
Families gathered for arts and crafts, shared hearty breakfast treats, and eagerly awaited their chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos.
“We love the holidays around here. It’s really about bringing our community together — talking with neighbors, meeting new people, taking pictures with Santa and enjoying breakfast,” said Kandice Newton, the village’s recreation supervisor and organizer of the Saturday morning event.
For years, the Breakfast with Santa event has been a cherished tradition for residents and visitors alike. Organized by the Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department, the cost for the two-hour gathering was $28 for residents and $34 for non-residents.
“We have a ton of arts and crafts,” Newton explained. “There’s a reindeer craft, a penguin craft, kids can make a picture frame for their Santa photo, and we even have letters to Santa for them to fill out.”
Among the attendees were Juliana Vissering, her children Sawyer, 5, and Penny, 2, and their grandmother, Alicia Rohrlack, from Skokie. It was their second year participating in the festivities.
“It’s a lot of fun. They do a really good job with all the crafts and keeping the kids entertained,” said Vissering. “I love that Santa and Mrs. Claus mingle with the kids first so they’re not scared when it’s time to take their picture.”
Sawyer and Penny immersed themselves in coloring crafts at their table, while other families took part in similar holiday activities.
For first-time attendees Catherine and Neil Farlow, from the Sauganash neighborhood of Chicago, the event offered a festive, family-friendly alternative to the busy downtown scene in the big city.
“We wanted something closer to home because it’s challenging bringing kids downtown,” said Catherine. “This is easy, small and low-key, so we thought it would be fun.”
About 30 minutes into the event, Santa and Mrs. Claus made their grand entrance to cheers and applause. They moved through the room, greeting families and spreading holiday cheer at every table.
Longtime attendees Kathy and Ludwig Herard, of Skokie, brought their children, Lucas, 9, and 7-year-old Kara, who look forward to the event each year.
“We’ve been coming every year,” said Lucas.
Kathy added that, “It’s the best food, it’s cozy, and it’s awesome.”
When asked what they were most excited about, Lucas said, “Seeing Santa — everything.”
His sister, Kara, enthusiastically agreed: “Everything Lucas said.”
As breakfast wrapped up, it was time for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Families lined up to share their Christmas wishes and capture memories with the iconic holiday duo.
Jessica and Tom Popovic, of Lincolnwood, attended with their three daughters, Juliana, 7, Isabel, 5, and Olivia, 1. For them, the event is a family tradition.
“It’s authentic, with a good Santa Claus. I feel like it’s kind of a hidden gem; it’s pretty personal,” said Tom Popovic.
After the photo session, Mrs. Claus read a holiday story to the children. The event concluded with games like limbo and freeze dance, and families appeared to leave with smiles and festive memories to carry through the season.
Kaitlin Mikrut is a freelancer.
