Kevin Williams. Photo by Robert Cornelius.
This month, you may see one sitting on a throne at the mall, handing out gifts at a holiday party or bringing up the rear as the big highlight of the town parade.
They’re professional Santa Clauses, and this is their season for breaking out the custom-made red suits, fur-trimmed hats and black boots.
To the casual observer, these Kris Kringles may seem interchangeable, but they’re not. Each one brings a unique twist to spreading joy during this festive season.
Kevin Williams of Camp Hill started his business, Santa-A-Go-Go, in 2015 and has been enjoying a role where there are few downsides, other than the occasional frightened child or rare skeptic who tugs at his beard, only to discover that it is indeed genuine.
“I grew it out a couple years back, and it came in white,” he said.
Most of Williams’ time is spent attending private parties, senior centers and corporate events, but he also visits children’s homes.
“Parents will sometimes leave presents outside for me, and I’ll put them in my big Santa sack and arrive at the house at a scheduled time before Christmas,” said Williams, who then hands the gifts over to the eagerly waiting child.
Williams reminisced about his own childhood, when Santa would call like clockwork every Christmas Eve.
“That was always fun and, when I visit with children, I realize that I am giving them something they can talk about as they get older and realize what their parents did,” he said.
Williams often dons his Santa suit and rides with the top down and the heat on in his red convertible that bears the license plate, “Ho Ho Ho.”
“People are so happy to see Santa, and I’ll see minivans speeding to catch up, and I’ll watch the back window go down as kids smile and wave,” he said. “It’s just magical.”
Williams was inspired to give back to charity after his wife had a bout with breast cancer. He chokes up when he reflects upon those dark times.
“She went to Johns Hopkins for treatment, so I make appearances there to lift everyone’s spirits,” he said.
His wife’s oncologist is located in Camp Hill and, each year, the office of Andrews and Patel gives him the name of a family affected by cancer. Williams then touches base with the parents to schedule a day to visit after finding out which presents are on the children’s wish list.
“Friends and relatives step in to give us donations because we all know that cancer is expensive, and we purchase gift cards to restaurants to help out,” he said.
Williams said that he meets a wide range of people while making his rounds.
“I was in a senior independent living facility and sat down with a bunch of gentlemen and asked a man in his 80s what he wanted. Quick as a whip, he said he wanted an attractive 60-year-old woman with a liquor store,” he said, with a chuckle.
Not all visits provoke laughter. Williams told of a time when he visited a low-income housing development.
“A kid looked at me and asked for a pair of gloves,” he said. “That caused me to pause and reflect on what we take for granted. That tugged at my heartstrings.”
Traditions
Tom Miller, who operates Massages by Miller in Camp Hill, said that he caught the Santa bug back in 1985 when he worked for Red Lobster, which held Christmas parties for kids.
“I started out borrowing suits and eventually bought my own and upgraded the suits and accessories over the years,” said Miller, who, like Williams, attends business parties, family gatherings and senior living events.
Miller said that he especially loves the smiles that Santa elicits from children.
“It gives them a chance to be kids,” he said. “Because of technology, they used to believe until about age 11, but now you’re lucky if it’s 7 or 8.”
Over the years, Miller has seen changes in gift requests.
“The older kids used to ask for Hot Wheels, trucks and dolls,” he said. “Now, it’s Xboxes, iPads, phones and computers.”
Miller remembers fondly a particular experience, when he was able to hop aboard a fire truck from the West Shore Fire Company for a public Santa visit.
“Riding on the fire truck was a big check off my bucket list,” he said.
Miller chuckles when he recalls one year driving to Syracuse in his Santa suit.
“I stopped at a McDonald’s to call my parents since I was running late, and we had a big snow that week,” he said.
As Miller climbed the snow banks to use a pay phone, a local policeman stopped by to ask if everything was all right. Miller told him that he needed to check in with Mrs. Claus.
“I told him there would be a few extra donuts in his stocking for checking on Santa’s safety, and he laughed and thanked me as he drove off,” Miller said.
One thing that tickles Miller the most is when the kids grow up and continue the tradition.
“The kids that came to see me when I started doing Santa are now bringing their own kids,” he said.
Over the Top
Sean Straining’s first foray into Santa world was a cold call that materialized into an annual event about eight years ago.
“I work as a clown during the year, and someone asked if I’d like to try being Santa,” he said. “I did and I loved it.”
He calls his Santa acting just a little more taxing than his clown gig.
“I am over-the-top jolly, jovial, bigger than the room and not as reverent as the other ones I’ve seen,” Straining said.
Over the years, one thing that’s remained consistent is that younger children, 6 years and under, usually want dolls, cars and Legos.
“At that age, they’re not yet looking for electronics,” Straining said.
He’s also happy when the siblings who no longer believe in Old Saint Nick seem content to hang back and appreciate watching their sister or brother sit on Santa’s lap and list what they want on Christmas morning.
“It’s nice that they don’t ruin it for their siblings,” he said.
Over the years, Straining has learned how to bring the scared children out of their shells.
“I lower myself to their level and allow them the power to come to me,” he said, adding that the gig has given him much joy. “It’s neat, awesome, incredible.”
So, wherever you see the Jolly Old Elf this year, you might just want to give him a wink, knowing that you’ll keep his secret. Just remember that we all possess the power to spread a special kind of joy this magical season—a kind that lives within the hearts of all those who dare to imagine.
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