With the busy holiday season quickly approaching, many people want to book Santa Claus for surprise home visits. We heard from one of our favorite Santas—Santa True—who gave us plenty of tips to help. Here’s what Santa True suggests to avoid last-minute scrambling!
Secrets from Santa True
A lot of folks want to hire a Santa for those weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The logistics of it all can make it difficult to find the right professional Santa with open availability. There is X number of Santas, and they can only cover a certain range of distance. On Christmas Eve, the Santas also face a narrow drive time for home visits. So, if you figure peak hours and a limited supply of professional Santas, a lot of folks are going to have some trouble.
But if we think outside the box, we can help get a lot more gigs for that hardworking Santa, and many more folks will get their Jolly Elf! There are a few alternative ideas you can consider.
Santa visits on weeknights, too.
The closer it is to the Christmas season, the fewer professional Santas you’ll find available during peak times. Save money and have more time with Santa by requesting him to visit on a weeknight. Or, you can have Santa come to your event for Lunch or Breakfast with Santa.
Santa is no stranger to the camera.
If you really want to surprise your doubters, have Santa come by when they’re not home and record him putting presents under the tree. Remove the presents and magically have them come back on Christmas morning. Then “discover” that the camera was left on, and lo and behold, “You caught Santa on camera!”
Santa loves surprises! And cookies, of course.
Home visits don’t have to be on Christmas Eve. Invite friends and family to come over and make cookies with a surprise special guest! You can host a party where children watch classic Christmas movies, have pajama story time, and so on. Santa is the world’s greatest expert on cookies, after all!
🤶 Looking for more ideas to make your gathering extra special? Consider inviting Santa’s better half and have Mrs. Claus visit your Christmas party.
Santa says, “The more, the merrier!”
Save money by having friends contribute and participate in those special times. Santa can visit with small groups as easily as he can with three or four children.
Sometimes Santa “accidentally” wakes you up.
Have Santa visit after the children have gone to bed, and you can quietly wake them while he’s putting presents under the tree. Santa always has time for a short visit before he hurries out to the next home!
Santa can rotate home visits.
Switch up your party locations. Santa can visit Aunt Sue’s house one year, and Uncle Bill’s the next. This reduces the pressure on one person to play host or hostess.
🎅 Read this post, too: How to Hire a Santa Claus for Your Holiday Event
While some may think booking a professional Santa for a home visit may be expensive, consider how much you pay to have photos taken at the mall. Realize that in the mall, Santa often has very little time to talk with children. Having a professional Santa come to your home or event can create magical memories that will inspire you for a lifetime!
Are you looking for a Santa for your holiday celebrations this year? Find local professionals and book the best at GigSalad.
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Santa True has over 30+ years of storytelling experience and loves making folks smile with his singing, storytelling, and truly interactive style. As a Santa, he has done commercials, corporate events, photo shoots, parades, and countless home visits making him an expert in all things St. Nick!
What great creative ideas! So much potential!
Thanks Santa True.
Linda Nicola
We’re so glad you like Santa True’s ideas!
I absolutely love the idea of catching Santa on camera. I think it would be a big surprise for the kids if I used my kids tablets! Awesome article, I will have to share it with my sisters since the holidays are coming up soon!!!
http://www.nationwidesanta.com/
We’re so happy you like the article! I’m sure the author, Santa True, will be delighted as well!