Southridge Santa’s
Visit Hints To Enhance Your Experience
| Santa gets HOT when wearing his suit! |
| Please make sure that your inside location is cool and comfortable, about 65-70 degrees, and that Santa’s chair isn’t placed in front of a lit fireplace. If possible, have a small fan available to help keep Santa cool during his appearance. |
1. Have Your Camera Ready: Make sure that all of your cameras and video equipment are ready to go, and all batteries are charged.
2. Reserve Special Parking: Parking should be right at the event as near to Santa’s entry point as possible. A temporary barricade that is quickly removed or a sign that would add more fun to your event would be ideal. Examples would be; “Santa’s Sleigh Parking Only” or “Reserved for Santa’s Sleigh”.
3. Santa’s Arrival: Make sure everyone is there prior to Santa’s arrival. Santa will call the contact phone number when he is 5 minutes away. When he does, gather everyone into a central location. Santa will have a specific amount of time and with everyone in the same place, he can make sure the time is well used. Make sure to have someone outside to meet Santa – to show him the way and to load presents into his sack, if needed. Santa LOVES A GRAND ENTRANCE! Santa does not need to enter through the front door, and it is often exciting to arrive from other locations. (Please have clear pathway and make sure your pets are secured).
4. Have Your Gifts Ready: If you have gifts or items to be handed out, Santa is more than happy to do so. Please have gifts well marked with printed names that are well taped to the package, or better yet, printed with a bold marker right on the package in a legible color, as tape can fall off. All gifts should be able to fit into the size of one large 35 gallon trash bag (30 x 36 inches), with a total weight of not more than 40 pounds. If more than 1 bag is required, please talk to Santa ahead of time. Perhaps an older child or adult “helper” can be arranged to bring in the others(s).
5. Seating Santa and Chair Location: Santa will need a sturdy chair to sit in for stable support. Remember children will be sitting on his knee! Folding chairs, plastic chairs, and low chairs (the one’s you sink into) are not good. Please, nothing with wheels! A sturdy, straight back dining room chair without arms will be a perfect choice. Pre-place this chair near your tree or wherever you want so as to get a nice background for the pictures. Leave enough room for people to also stand behind the chair. Remember, please do not place Santa’s chair in front of a lit fireplace.
6. Smoking: Santa also prefers NOT to be around cigarette or other smoke as it smells up his suit for other visits.
7. Photos: Think about pictures with everyone at the event. Parents, grandparents and don’t forget the teenagers. They may shy away or think taking a photo with Santa is too childish. How about a men’s “macho” photo with Santa. Santa can stand up for a “buddy” photo. How about a “high five” photo. (PLEASE NO PETS) Wait until Santa asks Grandpa or the boss if he’s been a good boy! Think of the fun that might produce.
8. Supervision: An adult must be present at all times to manage the children. Please remember, Santa does not discipline.
9. Santa Never Breaks from His Character: This is very important and something most adults do without thinking about the implications. Please don’t say things to Santa such as “Why you’re one of the best Santas I’ve ever seen”. Don’t ask questions about when he started playing Santa or where did he get his costumes. It’s very important that you treat me as Santa Claus and not as someone that plays Santa Claus. Remember, ALWAYS address Santa as Santa. Also, Santa is a wholesome, child-oriented character. Please instruct your guests to not compromise that image by having Santa hand out adult-only gifts, or behaving in a lewd manner either with or in the presence of Santa. If at anytime Santa feels such things are going unchecked he may cancel the remainder of the event. Please help keep the wonder of Christmas alive for your children and others.
10. Balance or Payment Due: If there is a balance or payment due to Santa, place it inside a Christmas card or envelope. It never looks appropriate when someone gives cash or a check to Santa in front of the children. So, as Santa is departing, hand him the envelope and say, “Thank you Santa and here is a Christmas card from all of us.”
11. Santa’s Departure: When it is time for Santa to leave, keep the children together and occupied for a few moments for his departure. Try this method. When Santa gives out the gifts, tell the children not to open them at that time. When it is time for Santa’s departure. Santa can tell the children that they can now open their gifts. The children will be busy with their presents and not notice Santa leaving.