This blog is sponsored by Southlake Mall Merrillville, In. All opinions and experiences are my own.
Happy Holidays friends! I’ve got some amazing things to share with those of you living in the greater Northwest Indiana and South Chicagoland regions!
Southlake Mall in Merrillville, In is the perfect place to shop, eat, and celebrate this holiday season. With a variety of events, a fabulous Santa setup, delicious dining options, and all the shops you’ll need to complete your gift list! We recently spent a Saturday as a family shopping, visiting Santa, grabbing some coffee, and having a bite to eat. I’m rounding up our favorite stops and sharing all the upcoming events below.
I’ll start with Santa! He is available in his Winter Wonderland [located near Forever 21 on the main level] until December 24. The hours vary so the best thing you can do is click here to view them! You can also make reservations on the Southlake Mall website which I think is a great option!
The holiday cheer at Southlake Mall this December goes beyond Santa with some great events happening!
• Saturday, December 11, Southlake Mall will host a kids Pajama Party from 4pm to 6pm in the Center Court with special guests including Mrs. Claus and her elves. Mrs. Claus will gather the children to read holiday books to them while they enjoy goodies and treats. Campagna Giving Tree will be collecting pajamas for their resident children and giving out $10 gift cards to the first 200 shoppers to be used at one of the food court restaurants. The Hobart YMCA will also be on-site leading a holiday-inspired craft for the children. A kids dance party featuring holiday tunes will take place in Center Court.
• Saturday, December 18th, the characters from Frozen will be at the Southlake Mall and available for photos from 12pm to 2pm. The Northwest Indiana Crisis Center will also be on site collecting pajama donations. The Crisis Center focuses on strengthening communities and empowering families with an emphasis on children in need of shelter, safety and support.
Holiday gift wrapping will be provided by Chicks that Wrap and available for shoppers in Center Court beginning on November 18th and running through Christmas Eve. Southlake Mall will be raffling off ten gift wrapping packages on their Instagram account starting on November 26th. Giveaway details will be posted on their Instagram[ click here ].
Shopping for kiddos is easy as there are a variety of great options! My girls absolutely LOVE Claire’s so we definitely made a stop there. We also visited Build-a-Bear, Carters, Sketchers, and JCPenney which have great options for kids. My favorite home goods options at Southlake Mall are JCPenney, Macy’s, and Yankee Candle. If you are looking for mens and womens clothing, my go-to’s are Express, Dry Goods, American Eagle, Journeys, Hollister, Macy’s and JCPenney!
Don’t head home without grabbing a bite to eat at one of the great options. On our trip we grabbed coffee at Whispers and had an early dinner at our favorite Cooper’s Hawk. Cooper’s Hawk also has great gifts for any wine lover in your life! There is also a large food court where you’ll find something that everyone will love. Plus a Wetzels Pretzels, and Cajun Boil Bar.
Visit + follow the Southlake Mall Instagram here!
Tell me your favorite places to shop +dine this holiday!