Great Northern Mall Announces Holiday Happenings

Press release from Great Northern Mall:

Nov. 16, 2021

The holidays are here and Great Northern Mall is making it festive and fun to check off those shopping lists all season long.

The holiday happenings kick off on Friday, November 19 with a Santa Parade to officially welcome Santa for a season of smiles and special visits with families.

Presented by Northeast Ohio Parent Magazine, the event starts at 5:30 p.m. featuring music and entertainment by The Real Popfusion, face painting, a balloon artist, stilt walkers and interactive experiences with vendors and exhibitors through 7 p.m. The Santa Parade steps off at 6 p.m. and guests can watch as the parade begins in the Regal Cinemas wing, heads down to Dillard’s, and then Macy’s, before ending at Santa’s Sleigh in Center Court.

Santa will be stationed at his sleigh in Center Court every day following the event through December 24. Reservations for the photo experience are not required but encouraged to reduce wait times. In addition, Santa will be handing a special takeaway to kids before they leave. A hand sanitizing station will be provided and those who wish may keep their visit socially distanced.

Sensory Friendly Santa Cares events presented by Northern Premier Electric will be hosted on Sunday, December 5 and Sunday, December 12 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. prior to store openings. To provide a quieter experience, mall music will be off and guest traffic is expected to be minimal. Visits with Santa are free, but reservations are required. Photo packages will be available for purchase with a portion of proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks.

Furry friends can visit with Santa during special Pet Photos with Santa on Sunday, November 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 19 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Presented by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the event welcomes domestic animals only, and all pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.

Additional holiday happenings at Great Northern Mall include:

CLE TREES: starting November 19
Great Northern has made holiday shopping even easier by creating a tree lot with CLE TREES in the parking lot between DSW and Raising Canes. The tree lot will remain open while supplies last.

Black Friday: November 26
Mall hours on Black Friday are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The first 100 shoppers will receive coffee, cookies, a swag bag, and a chance to win gift cards in the food court.

Small Business Saturday: November 27
Shopping small makes a big impact – and there are plenty of locally owned retailers to choose from at Great Northern, such as Hall of Framers, NoBasis, PS…, and Socks To Be You. A complete directory of Great Northern retailers can be found here.

Santa Shop & Stroll: December 4
Shop for all those on the nice list at the Santa Shop & Stroll event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can check in at the holiday cheer station in the food court to receive their “Santa Shop & Stroll Passport” and swag bag full of holiday surprises.

As guests shop at participating stores and get their passports stamped, they will also enjoy other free giveaways and treats. Once the passport is complete, return it to The Real Popfusion in the food court for the chance to win a Santa Surprise Gift valued over $250.

Coats for Kids: through December 31
Donate new or gently used winter coats (infant to adult) in the bins located in the Dillard’s wing. If you do not have a coat to donate, simply scan the QR code on the container to make a secure monetary donation.

Throughout the season Great Northern will also host an array of performances from local bands, orchestras, choirs, and dance groups. Plus, fun interactive entertainment on weekends with various local performers, including Kringle’s Inventionasium.

“We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate the magic of the season at Great Northern Mall,” Dan Crandall, marketing and business development manager at Great Northern Mall. “We’re proud to provide these special experiences for guests to make their holiday shopping extra memorable.”

For extended holiday shopping hours at Great Northern, visit here.

This press release was produced by Great Northern Mall. The views expressed here are the author's own.