Parakeet Paradise, featuring more than 300 mini-members of the parrot family, is among the new attractions at Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park in East Dundee, which opens for the season Saturday.
“This is an immersive experience where guests walk through a 3,000-square-foot aviary as the birds fly freely around them,” Lindsay Kosanovich, director of sales and marketing, said of the addition to Old MacDonald Barnyard.
There was an aviary at Santa’s Village until 2019, when it was replaced it with the Enchanted Experience, a virtual reality ride. The birds housed there were leased to another farm before it was decided to bring them back in a new park location, Kosanovich said.
In addition to the bird feature, the amusement park has expanded its MOOville attraction by moving the entrance to a new location so that guests can traverse a scenic, hilly pasture to see a variety of baby and miniature cows before arriving at the petting zoo, Kosanovich said.
And for those look forward to the May 23 opening day for Santa Springs Water Park, a new feature can be found there as well.
Coconut Competition, a four-lane mat racer slide that had a limited debut last year, will be fully open for a “fast-paced, competitive experience,” according to the park.
“Guests line up and race headfirst down the slide on mats for an exhilarating sprint to the finish,” Kosanovich said. “It’s a fun way for family and friends to enjoy a little friendly competition together.”
This month there also will be three special customer appreciation days:
A belated Mother’s Day celebration will be held Sunday, May 17, during which moms receive free admission when attending with someone who pays admission.
Teachers receive free admission on Saturday, May 23, with a valid ID when attending with a paid admission.
First responders receive free admission on Sunday, May 24, with a valid ID when attending with a paid admission.
In addition to the amusement and water parks and the Polar Dome ice arena, Santa’s Village is also home to Paintball Explosion, a separate business that been part of the venue for 15 years.
Santa’s Village, located at the southwest corner of routes 72 and 25, dates back to 1959. It’s gone through various incarnations over the decades and was closed for five years before reopening in 2011.
“We were fortunate to see attendance remain steady during the 2025 season,” Kosanovich said. “As a small, family-owned business, we are always looking to continue growing each year while keeping the experience affordable for families.”
For more information, including tickets and operating hours, go to www.santasvillagedundee.com.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
