Navy Pier

Play At The Pier

It was so exciting to hang out with a couple of our clients & friends at Chicago’s Navy Pier for some fun brainstorming discussions! Wonderful to see how people are getting outside & safely returning to The Pier. Everything looks great… the Centennial Wheel, the gardens, the outdoor restaurants, the boat rides, even the new • Read More »


Glitter & Gold at Navy Pier

The Sales & Events Team at Chicago’s Navy Pier hosted some of the area’s finest DMC’s for a luncheon in the Grand Ballroom. Guests were surrounded by glitter & gold as they were dazzled with the possibilities of hosing their next event at Navy Pier. We were proud partner with Navy Pier for this exciting • Read More »


Getting Into The Holiday Swing

New this year down at Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest is a chilly miniature golf course in the Lobby area for the kids to play… and their parents too. A frozen golf course complete with polar bears, penguins, igloos & reindeer. Families are encouraged stop by the Pro Shop to grab their foam golf clubs and • Read More »


Let The Games Begin…

Today was the first day of installation at Navy Pier for this year’s Winter WonderFest. Not much holiday cheer in the room yet… but give us another eight days to make it all come to life! If you look closely, you can just about see some of our skids of ornaments piled up & waiting • Read More »


Not Your Traditional Holiday Trees???

Always a highlight of Winter WonderFest are the over-the-top thematic trees. Each tree gets decked out with hundreds of lights & ornaments. This year we pushed to get more “themes” on the trees. It was great fun coming up with the concepts and seeing them through to installation. It’s been a busy week getting everything • Read More »


Come Meet The Residents of Winter WonderTown

Part of the fun of Winter WonderFest is letting the kids go explore & play in a safe holiday environment. Part of that fun is interacting with the “residents” of Winter WonderTown. With the help of the Ivan Carlson “Elves,” this magical village pops up for just a few weeks every year. The kids will • Read More »


Winter WonderFest : Opens Tomorrow

It’s that time of the year again… and the Ivan Carlson “Elves”have been working hard down at Chicago’s Navy Pier to get ready for this year’s holiday festivities. The party starts tomorrow as Winter WonderFest opens its door to the public on Friday, December 6th. Here’s a sneak peek of the 42′ tree that greets • Read More »


Winter WonderFest Opens Today

For several years, Ivan Carlson has been honored to be an integral part of Winter WonderFest. From the very beginning, we’ve been decorating trees, Reindeer Express, Santas Around The World and making everything look extra festive. Every year we tackle thirty wonderful thematic trees. Not your normal “tree-at-home” kind of tree. But a little bit • Read More »


A New Winter Village

There’s a new village popping up at Navy Pier this year! As part of Winter WonderFest, Mayor Burl Evergreen and the festive residents of Winter WonderTown will be greeting guests through the month of December! Stop by to chat with the Mayor, dance with the Mailman, get locked up by the Police and sing along • Read More »


Santa’s Den

The stage in the Family Pavilion at Navy Pier was decked out today in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. And to make him feel extra comfortable this year, the stage was designed as a recreation of his own Den in the North Pole. Complete with bookcases, fireplace and toy shelves. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be • Read More »