Santa’s Station returns to Uptown Normal this weekend

Up until Christmas Eve, Santa will still have open hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. (Uptown Normal)

By Jake Fogal

BLOOMINGTON – After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, Santa’s Station is returning to Uptown Normal this month.

The grand opening celebrations are scheduled for this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Through Christmas Eve, visitation hours will also be available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

On Saturday, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their elves will make their way from the 300 block of North Street, near The Alamo II, to the Mark R. Peterson Plaza outside Uptown Station.

After Santa arrives at the Plaza, the Plaza will remain open for visitors until 4 p.m. The line to see Santa begins inside Uptown Station, where free activities and live music are available to entertain visitors while they wait.

Up until Christmas Eve, Santa will still have open hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to take their own photos.

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…