Santa’s Station is coming back to Uptown Normal beginning Saturday, Dec. 6, with free visits offered on select dates through Christmas Eve. The annual attraction, presented by the Town of Normal, will operate from a new location just off the Uptown Normal Circle near the Trail East parking lot. Families are asked to check in at Uptown Station, where they can wait indoors before elves guide them to Santa.
Santa will greet visitors from 5–7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, and from 1–4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On Christmas Eve, hours will run from 1–3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own cameras for photos.
All visits are free, and donations will support different charitable groups each day. Host organizations and beneficiaries include the Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation, Toys for Tots of McLean County, the Humane Society of Central Illinois, Project Oz, the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, and several others throughout the month.
Santa’s Station 2025 Schedule:
| Time & Date | Hosted by: | Benefiting: | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. 6 |
Town of Normal Department of Cultural Arts & Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation | High School Summer Theatre Program & Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Sunday, Dec. 7 |
Cumulus Radio Bloomington | Toys for Tots of McLean County | ||
| 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10 | Humane Society of Central Illinois
Paws & Claus: Pet Photos with Santa |
Humane Society of Central Illinois | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Thursday, Dec. 11 |
Latinos en BloNo | Project Oz | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Friday, Dec. 12 |
Town of Normal Department of Cultural Arts & Illinois Art Station | High School Summer Theatre Program & Illinois Art Station | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. 13 |
Bloomington-Normal NAACP
|
Bloomington-Normal NAACP | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Sunday, Dec. 14 |
Bloomington-Normal Swim Club
|
Bloomington-Normal Swim Club | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Thursday, Dec. 18 |
Humane Society of Central Illinois | Humane Society of Central Illinois | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Friday, Dec. 19 |
Lifelong Access
|
Lifelong Access | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. 20 |
Bloomington-Normal Jaycees
|
Bloomington-Normal Jaycees | ||
| 1-4 p.m.,
Sunday, Dec. 21 |
Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal | Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Monday, Dec. 22 |
North Point Elementary Parent Teacher Organization | North Point Elementary Parent Teacher Organization | ||
| 5-7 p.m.,
Tuesday, Dec. 23 |
Town of Normal Police Department – Cocoa with a Cop | High School Summer Theatre Program & Paws Giving Independence | ||
| 1-3 p.m.,
Wednesday, Dec. 24 |
Town of Normal Department of Cultural Arts | High School Summer Theatre Program | ||
