The winter wonderland you’ll want to be walking in this holiday season—sleigh bells ringing and all—is downtown Hyde Park when the annual Hyde Park Holly-Day celebration returns on Saturday, December 7. Sponsored by the University of Chicago in partnership with Downtown Hyde Park, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, and the South East Chicago Commission, the free event features holiday activities for all ages at select locations throughout Hyde Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attendees can enjoy ice carving demonstrations and a self-guided ice sculpture stroll along 53rd Street; snap a photo with Soul Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Promontory or Santa Maui in a sleigh with live reindeer at the Hyde Park Shopping Center; meet Buddy the Elf and costumed characters at several Hyde Park businesses; and, for the first time this year, even ice skate right in Harper Court. Other activities will include a free screening of Moana 2 at the Harper Theater as well as holiday crafts, dance performances from the Hyde Park School of Dance and Kenwood Ballet Academy, and more.
Hyde Park Holly-Day
“Each year hundreds of people come to Hyde Park to kick off the holiday season with Hyde Park Holly-Day, including shopping and dining in local businesses,” Amy Srodon, Director of Marketing and Communications in UChicago’s Commercial Real Estate Operations said. “It’s a chance to discover new spots and visit neighborhood favorites and we look forward to seeing everyone there!”
RSVP here. To see day-of event maps, schedules, and more, visit hphollyday.com.