In mid-November Westfield Old Orchard underwent its biggest holiday transformation yet, called Magical Moments. Oversized ornaments and 3 larger-than-life trees were setup throughout the shopping center to embrace the holiday spirit. The largest tree measures a towering 36 feet featuring a walk-through component including a touch screen interactive ornament, a wall of silver mirrored spheres, family photo booth and a light show display which runs every 30 minutes.
To formally launch the holiday season, Westfield Old Orchard is holding a Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. December 1. The night’s events will include an official tree lighting with NBC’s very own Lee Ann Trotter guest hosting and a special appearance by Skokie Village Mayor George Van Dusen.
The evening will be filled with a flurry of holiday festivities. A special holiday parade led by Santa including the Niles North Marching Band and Maine East Cheerleaders will begin at 5:45 p.m. with your favorite holiday classics sung by the Niles North High School Choir. There will be a complimentary ice skating performance by Ice-Semble Chicago and Skokie Skatium at 7:15 p.m. in the shopping center’s newly built ice skating rink located near Bloomingdale’s. The spectacular event also will include the reduced ice skating price of $6 per person (5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.). (Regular skating prices are $12 with skate rental; $10 without.)
Additionally, those who attend this special event will have a chance to enter to win 4 tickets to see the North Shore Center’s Saturday December 15 production of The Nutcracker.
There also will be sweet treats, warm beverages, retailer discounts and an opportunity to snap a family photo with Santa and his merry elves. Courtesy of partners the Museum of Science and Industry, you can meet Snoopy and Charlie Brown too!
Westfield Old Orchard also is offering a special gift with purchase during the event. Shoppers can receive a general admission ticket to Charlie Brown and the Great Exhibit (valid through February 18, 2013). Other promotions include complimentary goodie bags given to the first 250 people and the chance to receive a $10 Westfield gift card with a $250 purchase (see concierge for details).
