The first sign of the holidays in Orland Park wasn’t a sleigh but a firetruck. Just after 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, its sirens cut through traffic on 159th Street as the man in red made his arrival.
Sweater weather was generous as families gathered near the mall entrance by The Cheesecake Factory. Carolers sang in the ideal November air, their voices carrying over the crowd. Two of Santa’s reindeer stood behind a short fence while Erin Genis, the “hot chocolate queen,” handed out warm cups to shoppers.
The Mallet and Mikalauskas families stood near the 30-foot tree, kids bundled in hats and mittens. “We came to see Santa and the reindeer,” one said. Before he arrived, carolers paused to sing “Happy Birthday” to a little girl named Nora, who couldn’t stop smiling as shoppers joined in song.
Then came the sirens. A red Orland Fire Department truck rolled into the plaza with police lights clearing the way. Santa stood on the back, waving like a movie star on premiere night. As he stepped down and walked toward the tree, the crowd joined in a countdown. The lights flipped on, and just like that, the season started.
“It’s early, I know, but people are ready,” said Cathy Mein, Orland Square’s marketing manager, watching families fill Center Court. “The kids are dressed up, they’ve got their Santa hats, they’re excited.”
Center Court filled fast as Elevate Dance Company, an Orland Park studio, performed the “Hot Chocolate” number from The Polar Express. Dancers moved in rhythm with mugs in hand. From the second floor to the ground, people leaned over the rails, smiling and clapping along. The place felt alive.
“This is our ninth Christmas here, but only the second year we’ve gone this big,” Mein said. “We’ve got the carolers, the live reindeer, the hot chocolate truck, and, of course, Santa arriving by firetruck. I love working with the fire department and police. Lots of lights, and the kids love it.”
She said it takes a full team to make the event happen. “Our engineers, maintenance, and security all play a part,” she said. “What I love most is knowing these kids will remember this. Someday they’ll say, ‘Remember when we saw Santa and the reindeer at the mall?’ That’s the best part.”
The Mobley family stopped near the carolers with their baby before heading toward Santa’s photo set. “We just came to shop,” one parent said. “But this made our night.”
There’s plenty more for families to take in at Orland Square Mall through December. Santa will be back for photos until Christmas Eve, with Pet Photos on Nov. 23, Caring Santa on Dec. 7, Cookies with Cops on Dec. 17, and gift wrapping by the South Suburban Humane Society before Christmas.
For Orland Park, the holidays have officially started. The glow of the tree outside the mall makes that clear.
