Adam Woodworth of Lockport wears many hats including executive director of The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn to donning a holiday stocking cap as Santa.
His journey as a Santa portrayal artist began in 2019 with a private visit but has grown to appearances such as being featured on the last of 40 floats during the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival tree lighting parade in Chicago.
“That’s really Santa up there. I just look like him,” Woodworth quipped.
Nov. 18 marked the second year in a row he portrayed Santa Claus at the festival, which included complimentary photos with the beloved character before the parade down Michigan Avenue.
“It’s meeting and greeting families like I do at pretty much any event and really just kicking off the holiday season in a big way,” said Woodworth.
The parade included 1 million lights illuminated by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Walt Disney World Resort, 385 marching band members, 200 trees, three giant helium balloons and Santa’s sleigh.
“It was such a whirlwind. It was fantastic and very humbling. I’m so grateful and I feel so honored to be part of it,” Woodworth said.
Woodworth established North Pole Santa, LLC to handle bookings such as customized visits or events, live video chats, photo opportunities and home visits including on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
“I’ve done a lot with Christmas Without Cancer,” said Woodworth, who appeared at the nonprofit’s ninth annual 5K run/walk in September at the Hamilton B. Maher Community Center in Evergreen Park.
“They are a fantastic organization. I can’t say enough about the work they do,” he said. “They support not just families but people who are adults and children who are battling cancer. These folks are amazing. I love volunteering for them.”
Woodworth also portrayed Santa at The Second City in Chicago for a 2023 Christmas in July promotion through Live Art International and in a 2022 Harry & David commercial, a 2021 holiday video for Rust-Oleum and a 2020 online promotion for FamiSafe.
One of Woodworth’s latest projects was his children’s book “Twilight: A Reindeer Story,” based off a two-stanza poem his daughter, Alyssa, wrote about a reindeer named Twilight.
“Three years ago I found a very short writing that my daughter had done when she was 5 or 6 years old,” he said. “Her story was a little bit different, but I asked her when I found it ‘Can I use that name?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ I tucked it away and I didn’t do anything with it right away.”
When children during school visits kept asking if he had any other reindeer, Woodworth mentioned other reindeers’ names including Twilight.
“I started doing little stories about Twilight and decided I should merge this and do a book because then I can tell the story of Twilight,” he said.
The 32-page book about a distracted reindeer who wants to make Santa’s sleigh team was edited by Homer Glen resident Judy Hogfeldt, a retired English teacher he met when their works were both accepted for Limestone Stage’s Local Playwright One-Act Festival.
“We connected through writing,” said Adam Woodworth, the former development and community relations director for Lockport-based Limestone Stage. He is a member of the community theater’s improv comedy team and planning a writing workshop with Hogfeldt for early 2024.
“Twilight: A Reindeer Story” is illustrated by Niluka Damayanthi, a Sri Lankan artist he connected with through Fiverr, a freelance services marketplace.
The character roster of North Pole Santa was expanded this year to include Mrs. Claus, portrayed by Adam Woodworth’s wife of 30 years, Krista Woodworth.
“It’s fantastic. We know each other so well and it’s just natural. Our first event that we worked together was actually at the children’s museum for sensory-friendly night,” Adam Woodworth said.
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The Nov. 8 play session was for families with children who would benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere.
“We have an adult son with cerebral palsy, so working with children with varying abilities comes naturally,” he said. “She’s a substitute teacher and a lot of times she substitutes in the special education classroom, so that sensory-friendly night was so much fun.”
The Woodworths next public appearance together is Wee Ones Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, 5100 Museum Drive. Registration is required for the play session for ages 3 and younger with their caregivers.
Tickets are $5 for adults and ages 12 months to 3 years, and free for children younger than 12 months and museum members. For tickets call 708-423-6709 or go to cmoaklawn.org.
The weekly hourlong Wednesday morning session, which has included developmental therapist Kate McDermott, of Oak Lawn, led to the McDermott joining North Pole Santa’s roster as the character of Elfie this year.
“For Wee Ones Wednesday, we have therapists here. If a parent has a question about their children’s development, they do not have to schedule a doctor’s appointment or schedule a therapy appointment. They can come to the museum, ask their question and talk,” Woodworth said.
“Our goal on that was to break down barriers for families,” he said.
Woodworth said the reaction from children during his Santa visits makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s the joy I see on the child’s face when they see me and interact with me. This is a big deal for them,” he said.
“That’s coupled with the parents or the grandparents who see the child’s joy. They feel the joy and you see the joy within them so it’s all of that. You can’t have one without the other. It’s the whole thing, the whole joy experience.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.