Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst for 2026, and here is what he found: 4 family events, 1 of them free. The magic runs from December 5 (Candy Cane Games) through December 12, with Santa at Wilder Mansion (December 5), School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema" (December 6) and Santa Paws Dog Photo Sessions (December 12) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Illinois Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Elmhurst
- 4 Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst
- 1 free event, including School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema"
- Meet Santa: 3 chances, including Santa at Wilder Mansion (December 5) and School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema" (December 6)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show, 1 story time and 3 craft workshops
- Season: December 5 (Candy Cane Games) to December 12 (Santa Paws Dog Photo Sessions)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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All 4 events
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- 3 Santa
- 3 Crafts
- 2 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Shows
- 1 Free
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Free Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst
Santa visitFree
School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema"
- When: Sunday, December 6, 2026, 8 am to noon
- Where: York Theatre, 150 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Listed as free on the School of Rock Elmhurst page
Expand to see the parent tip
The Elmhurst Neighbors and Newcomers Club and the Elmhurst Area Moms take over the whole York Theatre for a morning of Santa visits, photo ops with Santa and Elsa, holiday movie showings, crafts and snacks. Students from School of Rock Elmhurst play holiday songs live for a dance party and concert ahead of the movie.
School of Rock Elmhurst lists the event for Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 8:00 am to noon and marks it free. The page does not give the band's set time or say whether the host clubs ask for sign-up, so confirm those details with the hosts.
Parent tip: A live rock band inside a movie theater gets loud, so pack ear protection for babies and toddlers. Since the page gives no set time and the concert comes before the movie, come early in the morning rather than late.
- Host
- School of Rock Elmhurst (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- York Theatre, 150 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Elmhurst events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Elmhurst daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Elmhurst.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Elmhurst events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Elmhurst.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Elmhurst before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 3 Santa
- 3 Crafts
- 2 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Shows
- 1 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Elmhurst every week.
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday event
Candy Cane Games
- When: Sat December 5 (1 to 2 pm) and Sat December 5 (2:30 to 3:30 pm), 2026 (Two sessions, choose one)
- Where: Mary E. Kies Recreation Center, 155 E St Charles Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $17 residents, $21 nonresidents, registration required
- Ages: Ages 3 to 8 with an adult
Expand to see the parent tip
This is an hour of holiday play inside the Mary E. Kies Recreation Center. Kids try candy cane hockey, search the building in an indoor Candy Cane Hunt, settle in for a holiday story time and make festive crafts, with a few extra surprises along the way.
The Elmhurst Park District offers two sessions on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm or 2:30 to 3:30 pm. The fee is $17 for residents and $21 for nonresidents, it is for ages 3 to 8 with an adult, and you register through the park district.
Parent tip: Everything happens indoors, so weather will not matter, but an adult has to stay and take part. If your three-year-old still naps after lunch, the 2:30 pm session is the safer pick.
- Host
- Elmhurst Park District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Mary E. Kies Recreation Center, 155 E St Charles Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Elmhurst events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Elmhurst daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Elmhurst.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Santa visit
Santa at Wilder Mansion
- When: Sat December 5 (9 to 10:15 am) and Sat December 5 (10:30 to 11:45 am), 2026 (Two sessions, choose one)
- Where: Wilder Mansion, 211 S Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Registration required for each child and adult, no price listed on the organizer's page
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa's elves hand out cookies, kids sit down to make a holiday craft, and every child gets time with Santa along with a complimentary photo. Families also get early entry to Santa's Workshop, a shopping area just for kids stocked with affordable gifts for Mom, Dad and others.
There are two sessions on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:15 am or 10:30 to 11:45 am at Wilder Mansion. Every child and every adult must register with the Elmhurst Park District, and the news page does not show the fee.
Parent tip: Send each child in with a little spending money and a short list of who they are buying for, because Santa's Workshop is kids-only and they will be choosing gifts without you.
- Host
- Elmhurst Park District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Wilder Mansion, 211 S Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Elmhurst events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Elmhurst daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Elmhurst.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Santa visit
Santa Paws Dog Photo Sessions
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 9 am to noon (Ten-minute sessions by sign-up)
- Where: Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $10 Canine Corner members, $15 non-members, registration required
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa poses with the family dog in a festive setting during short private sessions run by the Elmhurst Park District. Each family signs up for a ten-minute slot and takes the pictures on a camera of their own.
Sessions run Saturday, December 12, 2026, between 9:00 am and noon. The fee is $10 for Canine Corner members and $15 for non-members, registration is required, and the news page does not name the location, so check it when you sign up.
Parent tip: Ten minutes pass quickly with an excited dog, so give your pup a good walk beforehand and bring treats. Decide ahead of time which adult holds the leash and which one works the camera, since no photographer is mentioned.
- Host
- Elmhurst Park District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Elmhurst, IL 60126 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Elmhurst events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Elmhurst daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Elmhurst.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Illinois Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Elmhurst Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Candy Cane Games in Elmhurst on December 5; the last runs to December 12. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Candy Cane GamesElmhurst · Dec 5
- Santa at Wilder MansionElmhurst · Dec 5
- School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema"Elmhurst · Dec 6
- Santa Paws Dog Photo SessionsElmhurst · Dec 12
Looking further afield? Our Illinois Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Glen Ellyn, Bloomingdale, La Grange, IL and Wheaton. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Elmhurst
Elmhurst went by Cottage Hill until 1869, a name made official with its first post office in 1845, two years after the Hill Cottage Tavern opened on St. Charles Road. That same road now leads families to Candy Cane Games, while Santa settles in at Wilder Mansion and the York Theatre for the first weekend of December.
How Elmhurst celebrates
The Elmhurst Park District carries much of the season. On Saturday, December 5 it runs Santa at Wilder Mansion, with cookies from elves, crafts and a kids-only Santa's Workshop, in the mansion that shares Wilder Park with the public library and the conservatory. The same day it holds Candy Cane Games at the Mary E. Kies Recreation Center on St. Charles Road. On December 6 the Elmhurst Neighbors and Newcomers Club and the Elmhurst Area Moms fill the York Theatre on York Street for Santa at the Cinema, where School of Rock Elmhurst plays holiday songs. The park district's Santa Paws dog photo sessions follow on December 12.
Fun facts about Christmas in Elmhurst
Ohio native Gerry Bates established a community in 1842 on a tract of treeless land at what became Elmhurst City Centre. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was granted a right-of-way through in 1849, and the first Elmhurst railroad station was built in 1894. The community took the name Elmhurst in 1869, incorporated as a village in 1882 and adopted a city form of government in 1910. The 2020 census counted 45,786 residents.
Traditions today
- Santa at Wilder Mansion: The Elmhurst Park District brings Santa, cookie-serving elves and holiday crafts to Wilder Mansion in Wilder Park.
- Santa's Workshop: Inside Wilder Mansion, a shopping area open only to kids lets them pick out affordable gifts for their parents.
- Candy Cane Games: Children ages 3 to 8 play candy cane hockey and hunt for candy canes indoors at the Mary E. Kies Recreation Center.
- Santa at the Cinema: Two local family clubs take over the York Theatre for Santa visits, holiday movies, crafts and a live School of Rock concert.
- Santa Paws: Dogs get their own ten-minute photo sessions with Santa through the park district.
- Elmhurst Express Trolley: In December a free weekend trolley connects downtown Elmhurst with the Spring Road businesses and the public library.
A fact for kids
In December you can ride a trolley around Elmhurst for free. The Elmhurst Express Trolley runs on Fridays and Saturdays between downtown, the Spring Road shops and the public library.
Questions about Christmas in Elmhurst
When was Elmhurst founded?
A community took shape in 1842, when Ohio native Gerry Bates settled a tract of treeless land at what became Elmhurst City Centre. Elmhurst was incorporated as a village in June 1882 and adopted a city form of government in 1910.
How did Elmhurst get its name?
The community was officially named Cottage Hill in 1845, when its post office opened. It changed its name to Elmhurst in 1869. Thomas Barbour Bryan, a prominent resident often called the Father of Elmhurst, is credited with the renaming.
When did the railroad come to Elmhurst?
In 1849 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad received a right-of-way through the community, which gave farmers easier access to Chicago. The first Elmhurst railroad station was built in 1894. Today the Metra Union Pacific West Line stops at Elmhurst station.
What is Wilder Park?
Wilder Park is a centrally located park that holds the Wilder Mansion, the Elmhurst Public Library, the Wilder Park Conservatory and the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. On December 5, 2026, the mansion hosts the park district's Santa at Wilder Mansion.
What happens at Christmas for kids in Elmhurst?
Listings for 2026 include Santa at Wilder Mansion and Candy Cane Games on December 5, Santa at the Cinema at the York Theatre on December 6 and Santa Paws dog photo sessions on December 12. Santa, crafts, story time and live holiday music all appear.
Where are Elmhurst's Christmas events held?
Wilder Mansion at 211 S Prospect Ave, the Mary E. Kies Recreation Center at 155 E St Charles Rd and the York Theatre at 150 N York St. The park district's page for Santa Paws does not name a location, so check when you register.
Who organizes Christmas events in Elmhurst?
The Elmhurst Park District runs Santa at Wilder Mansion, Candy Cane Games and Santa Paws. Santa at the Cinema is hosted by the Elmhurst Neighbors and Newcomers Club and the Elmhurst Area Moms, with School of Rock Elmhurst providing live holiday songs.
What is free at Christmas in Elmhurst?
Santa at the Cinema on December 6 is marked free on the School of Rock Elmhurst listing. Elmhurst also has the Elmhurst Express Trolley in December, a free weekend trolley linking downtown with the Spring Road businesses and the public library.
Is there a holiday trolley in Elmhurst?
The Elmhurst Express Trolley runs during the summers and in December. It is a free weekend trolley that connects downtown Elmhurst to the Spring Road businesses and the Elmhurst Public Library, and it runs on Fridays and Saturdays.
How big is Elmhurst?
Elmhurst had 45,786 residents at the 2020 census. It is a western suburb of Chicago that sits in DuPage and Cook counties, and in 2014 Family Circle magazine ranked it among the ten best towns in the country for families.
Sources
- Elmhurst, Illinois, Wikipedia
- Candy Cane Games, Elmhurst Park District
- Santa at Wilder Mansion, Elmhurst Park District
- School of Rock Elmhurst Performs at "Santa at the Cinema", School of Rock Elmhurst
- Santa Paws - Dog Photo Sessions, Elmhurst Park District
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Illinois city.
Elmhurst Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst to start with?
Santa at Wilder Mansion on Saturday, December 5, 2026, packs cookies from elves, crafts, a Santa visit with a complimentary photo and a kids-only gift shop into 75 minutes. For a bigger, looser morning, Santa at the Cinema fills the York Theatre on Sunday, December 6, from 8:00 am to noon.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Elmhurst?
The School of Rock Elmhurst listing marks Santa at the Cinema on December 6 as free. It is hosted by the Elmhurst Neighbors and Newcomers Club and Elmhurst Area Moms at the York Theatre, 150 N York St, so confirm entry details with the hosts. The park district events require registration.
Where can kids meet Santa in Elmhurst?
Santa is at Wilder Mansion, 211 S Prospect Ave, on Saturday, December 5 in two sessions, 9:00 to 10:15 am and 10:30 to 11:45 am. He also appears at Santa at the Cinema at the York Theatre on Sunday, December 6. Dog owners can book Santa Paws photo sessions on December 12.
Are there holiday shows or movies for kids in Elmhurst?
Santa at the Cinema on December 6 includes holiday movie showings at the York Theatre, and School of Rock Elmhurst performs holiday songs live for a dance party and concert before the movie. The event runs from 8:00 am to noon, with crafts, snacks and photo ops with Santa and Elsa.
Which Elmhurst Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
All three Elmhurst Park District events need registration. Santa at Wilder Mansion requires every child and adult to register. Candy Cane Games on December 5 costs $17 for residents and $21 for nonresidents. Santa Paws on December 12 is $10 for Canine Corner members and $15 for non-members, in ten-minute sessions.
Can we do two Elmhurst Christmas events in one day?
Yes, December 5 works well. Santa at Wilder Mansion offers morning sessions ending at 10:15 or 11:45 am, and Candy Cane Games at the Mary E. Kies Recreation Center, 155 E St Charles Rd, has afternoon sessions at 1:00 and 2:30 pm for ages 3 to 8 with an adult.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Elmhurst?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Illinois Christmas train rides guide. This Elmhurst guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.