SANTA'S ON HIS WAY TO WOODFIELD MALL
Released: 11/01/05
MEDIA CONTACT: Bonni Pear or Emily Jane Watt,
Miller-Pear Public Relations
(312) 649-0466; bpear@millerpear.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTAS ON HIS WAY TO WOODFIELD MALL
Schaumburg, Ill. (November 1, 2005) - Santa's sleigh is packed and its course is set for a much-anticipated arrival at Woodfield Mall, 7 p.m., Saturday, November 12. Always the site of one of the area's grandest Santa arrival celebrations, Woodfield will welcome the man of the season with world-class music and merriment. Dancers from the renowned Joffrey Ballet will perform excerpts from Robert Joffrey's beloved rendition of The Nutcracker. And the world's most famous funsters - clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(r) Circus - will warm up the crowd with hilarious hijinks. Thousands of well-wishers from throughout the Chicago area and across the Midwest are expected to turn out for the free, public festivities.
"As the Chicago area's largest shopping center, Woodfield has a tradition to uphold of ringing in the holidays in a really big way," said Marc Strich, general manager of the mall. "We're delighted to be able to offer this special holiday gift to our customers."
The Woodfield Santa arrival celebration will take place within Comcast Connections Court in the shadow of the magnificent holiday tree - an imposing 54-foot fir that serves as the centerpiece for the mall's much-touted Illinois Collection holiday dicor. Weighing in at close to 6,000 pounds, and donning more than 850,000 lights, 12,000 ornaments and 6,750 feet of ribbon and garland, the mammoth evergreen holds the distinction of being the area's largest indoor tree.
Juxtaposed against the tree, 20-foot-tall replicas of state landmarks including Sears Tower, Wrigley Field and the State Capitol, rise above a wintry street scene with four moving trains and brightly decorated storefront windows. It's through these windows that children awaiting their annual audience with the man of the season get their first peak at Santa Claus, holding court at the base of the tree. Santa will be available for photos during all mall hours from the evening of his arrival through December 24. Digital photo packages are available for purchase.
Woodfield is home to nearly 300 stores and restaurants, including dozens that can't be found anywhere else in the Midwest. Merchants range from the unique - fine art and jewelry dealers, cutting-edge clothiers for men, women, teens and children, and home furnishing emporiums - to nationally-recognized department stores JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field's, Nordstrom and Sears. Notable newcomers since last holiday season include clothing retailers Buckle, JimmyZ, Forth and Towne, BEBE SPORT, French Connection, NikeWomen, jewelers JB Robinson and Tiffany's IRIDESSE, and Aldo Accessories, Sony Style, C.O. Bigelow, and Lindt Chocolate Shop, along with the newest restaurants, P. F. Chang's China Bistro and Texas de Brazil.
For additional information about Woodfield's Santa arrival celebration, other seasonal happenings, and expanded holiday hours, log on to www.shopwoodfield.com or call (847) 330-1537. The official Web site of Woodfield, www.shopwoodfield.com also features an online gift guide, information about new merchandise, current sales, an interactive mall directory, and ready-to-print savings coupons. Web users can create a holiday wish list to be e-mailed to friends and family and sign up for a weekly Woodfield e-bulletin of news about favorite stores, events and special offers.
Woodfield Mall, located in Schaumburg, Ill., at Golf Road and Route 53, is easily accessible from key regional arteries I-290 and I-90. Holiday Valet Parking is available at designated mall entrances for a day-long fee of $6 (free for the physically challenged).