Chicago Ridge Mall hosted a Holiday Posada on Saturday, Dec. 13, welcoming families for a free afternoon that blended traditional holiday fun with elements inspired by Hispanic celebrations.
The event was held at Chicago Ridge Mall, 444 Ridgeland Ave., and was designed as a family-friendly community gathering without religious components. Mall officials said the goal was to create an inclusive holiday experience that welcomed shoppers of all backgrounds.
Several community partners participated, including the Chicago Ridge Fire Department, Girl Scouts, OSF and Chick-fil-A, offering activities and engagement throughout the day.
Children and families visited a variety of themed stations featuring candy bags, known as aguinaldos, a concha station, hot chocolate, piñata décor, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, caricature drawings, tinsel decorating and a holiday-themed photo booth.
Live performances drew crowds, with “Santa’s Elves” by Those Funny Little People entertaining attendees, followed by a performance by Ballet Folklórico Yetlanazi.
As a holiday bonus, the first 100 attendees received a free print coupon with the purchase of a Santa photo package at the mall’s new Santa set.
The Holiday Posada was part of the mall’s seasonal programming aimed at bringing the community together through interactive and culturally inspired celebrations.