ST. JOHN | Preparing for Santa's visit to St. John, town employees put finishing touches this week on the winter wonderland at Prairie West Park.

Santa is set to arrive at 7 p.m. Friday at the park. He will stay until he visits with every child, Town Council President Michael Fryzel said.

Santa will sit inside a heated pavilion adorned with fake snow on the ceiling and walls. Colored icicle lights hang from the ceiling, and the room is filled with decorations, from inflatable penguins to lighted polar bears. A stage is set up for carolers.

The area is wired with security cameras that connect to the St. John Police Department, because last year, the winter wonderland was vandalized, Fryzel said.

The festivities will include music, popcorn, hot chocolate and hot dogs.

The annual Christmas in the Park event has drawn people from surrounding communities and as far as Orland Park, said Public Works Director Bob Pharazyn.

This year, the town expects more than 2,500 people to attend, Fryzel said.

The crowd will count down to the tree lighting and then to Santa's arrival, which will come with a "bang," Pharazyn said, hinting at a surprise part of the festivities.

A path of wood chips leads to Santa's workshop. Lining the path are 100 trees, many of which are sponsored and decorated by local groups and businesses.

The St. John Historical Society tree has ornaments of laminated photos of historic St. John, including a general store from 1894 and a blacksmith shop from 1857. Taylor Street Italian Beef decorated its tree with plastic hot dogs and cheeseburgers and topped it with a clump of straws as a star.

For Friday's event, parking is available in the parking lot of St. John Evangelist Church or at nearby Kmart. Shuttle buses will bring people to the park.

After Friday, Santa will visit with children in his workshop from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas Day.