Holiday Events

Pjs & Pizza with Santa

Come out in your Pjs and treat the whole family to a magical afternoon with Santa! The afternoon will be filled with yummy pizza, a festive hot cocoa bar, cookie decorating, and an ornament craft. Santa will make an appearance and take picture with all the kids. Children 1 and under are free. This is an all ages event. Location: Community Center

Letters to Santa

Santa has asked the Cary Park District to collect letters from children in our community! Now through December 1, Santa’s mailbox will be displayed in the Community Center lobby. Santa will reply to each child who writes him letter and either mails or drops it off at the Community Center.

Santa is very busy this time of year! To help him out, all letters must include the child’s name, age, address, and a self-addressed stamped envelope so Santa can write your child back. Your child’s original letter will not be returned. This activity is free!

Drop off in Santa’s Mailbox: Located inside the Community Center, 255 Briargate Road, Cary, IL 60013. The Community Center is open Monday – Thursday, 5:30 am – 10:00 pm, Friday, 5:30 am – 8:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. The Community Center will have reduced hours or will be closed Wednesday – Friday, November 27 – 29. Check our event calendar for hours on these days.

Letters may be mailed to: Santa Claus, c/o Cary Park District, 255 Briargate Road, Cary, IL 60013.

All letters must be received by 6:00 pm, Sunday December 1.

Visit with Santa

Santa is coming to the Cary Park District to hear your child’s wish list! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Location: Foxford Hills Golf Club

Jaycee Park Holiday Tree Decorating

Kick off the holiday season and enjoy holiday trees decorated by friends, neighbors, and groups from all over the community! If you would like to spread holiday cheer by decorating a tree, there are trees still available for families, groups, clubs, troops, and businesses. The trees will be placed in Jaycee Park near the corner of Three Oaks and Silver Lake Roads. Each group is responsible for their own decorations and lights. Decorated trees will be displayed for approximately 4-weeks. Tree decorating will begin Saturday, December 7. Pre-registration is required and the deadline to register is November 23. Ages: 5 years & older   Location: Community Center

Christmas Gnome – A VIP & Me Paint Party

This painting class promotes healthy bonding between a very important person (VIP) in a child’s life and that child through creative art. VIP & child each make one painting and when hung next to each other create a masterpiece. VIP and child each make one painting and when hung next to each other create a masterpiece. Fee includes two canvases, paint, and all materials. One registration is good for VIP and child. Register to bring an additional child for $10 more. Ages: 5 years & older   Location: Community Center

Ornament Painting Create & Play

Learn various techniques to paint ball ornaments. Techniques include painting on the ornaments with acrylic paint and paint pens to pouring paint in the ornament and swirling them. Each painter will receive two ornaments, additional ornaments will be available for purchase. Age: 14 & older  Location: Community Center

All Aboard the Holiday Express

Sing, create, and play with Miss Carol. We’ll start the morning with professional storyteller, Thom Lange, telling the story of a magical train ride to the north pole. Next make holiday crafts and then finish with hot cocoa and cookies. Please wear your favorite pjs and bring your favorite stuffy. Ages: 3 – 5 years with parent/caregiver  Location: Community Center

Santa’s Snowstorm Lab Life Coaching for Kids

Get ready for an avalanche of wild and wacky fun! Make your own fluffy, faux, scented science snow in Santa’s Snow Lab. Color it, scent it, add in snowballs, and make a bubbling Snowcano. Class will culminate with making an edible snowman with marshmallows. Kids will also learn 15 creative STEM projects they can do at home with their fluffy pile of faux snow. This is a co-op program with Crystal Lake Park  District and Lake in the Hills Park & Recreation Department. Ages: 5 – 13 years  Location: Spoerl Park Program Building, 7610 Pingree Road, Crystal Lake

Grinch Goo-tastic Holiday Slime Lab

Have the slime of your life creating seasonal Grinch inspired slime. Our concoction lab will include all the colors of Christmas, Grinch hearts, “ornaments” as mix-ins, and winter scents. Play a slimy game to catch the Grinch before he steals our Christmas. Everyone will go home with the slime they made. Kids must be able to follow directions independently. This is a co-op program with Crystal Lake Park District and Lake in the Hills Park & Recreation Department. Ages: 5 – 13 years  Location: Spoerl Park Program Building, 7610 Pingree Road, Crystal Lake

Holiday Potluck Brunch, Cary Canaries Concert & Bingo

Eat, drink and be merry at the Holiday Potlunch Brunch. Bring your favorite dish to share and be ready to “Fa La La La” with the Cary Canaries to your favorite holiday music. After enjoy a holiday brunch we will finish with 8-game bingo. Registration deadline is December 13. Ages: 55 & better  Location: Community Center

You’ve Been Elfed

Elf your family, friends, and neighbors with a surprise at home candy cane hunt! Santa’s elves will hide two dozen candy canes and a few extra mini candy canes in the front yard and leave a “You’ve Been Elfed” sign on the front door.