Olivia Holt Brings Jingle Bell Heist Happiness to Her Chicago Macy’s Meet-and-Greet

On Thursday, Dec. 18, Olivia Holt found herself once again inside a department store at the holidays — but this time, she was there to bring the magic as opposed to removing the contents of the store’s safe.

The star of Netflix’s Jingle Bell Heist, which was No. 1 in its release week and been a staple on the streaming platform’s top 10 in the weeks since, joined fans for a meet-and-greet at the Chicago Macy’s store on State Street, which was packed with customers taking in the holiday sights, meeting Santa and grabbing a bite at the iconic Walnut Room (which, in a tribute to the store’s origins, was decorated in tribute to Marshall Field’s).

“It’s so surreal,” Holt told PEOPLE of her holiday film’s success. “I grew up watching classic holiday movies and I have so many that I love. To be a part of the Netflix tradition of holiday movies is just the cherry on top of this holiday season. So I’m very grateful and happy.”

The actress, also known for Cruel Summer, Heart Eyes and Kickin It’, greeted a line of fans who had traveled from near and far to chat with her; posed for selfies; and sent messages to friends who weren’t present. She was even gifted a tin of Chicago’s famed Garrett Popcorn by a fan!

One fan came in an outfit inspired by the actress, and upon seeing Dad taking pics proudly from the line, Holt invited the whole family to get in for a photo (below).

During a moment of downtime, Holt chatted with PEOPLE about some of her own holiday traditions.

When it comes to her own favorite films to watch this time of year, she lists “The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express and It’s a Wonderful Life — that’s a beautiful holiday movie.”

And as far as she’s concerned, it’s never too early to start celebrating.

“I put the tree up before Thanksgiving. The holidays happen very early in my house,” she says. “I love putting the tree up and decorating with family or friends. I think that’s a fun tradition to keep up because it really sets the tone for the holiday; it’s like a good reminder, the camaraderie and community that I’ve built around me.”

She also considers herself a pretty good gift giver, forgoing gift cards for more personal picks based on things her friends really love. But when it comes to what she likes to receive, she says experiences top her list, particularly with her family.

“We’re all older now, so physical gifts are sometimes a little trickier to give unless there’s really something that one of us wants. So we’ll do trips altogether, which I think is very fun,” she says.

After some downtime with her family in the next few weeks, she’s jumping back into a busy 2026 (Cruel Summer season 3 is now in production at Hulu!), but with something on her mind ahead of the new year.

“I’ve never really been a big resolutions person, but I have been thinking for this next year, it’s cheesy, but I want to be more present,” she says. “I want to find myself in moments, really living them and not [being] distracted by all the chaos and noise that life can sometimes throw at you.”

Judging by the excitement in the Macy’s store Thursday, she’s got a lot of fans eager to be a part of all the happy chaos coming her way.