National Santa

National Santa is experienced in working almost every type of event from a simple home visit to live television appearances for audiences from 300 to 300,000. He is a professional Master of Ceremonies, Corporate Spokesperson, Singer and can also do Comedy. He is extremely photogenic and has a magnetic personality and is in high demand for media events and special programs.
He has been the personal Santa for celebrity and dignitaries home visits and events including Dr. Phil, Reese Witherspoon, Candi Spelling, Jimmy Ione, Marvin Davis and Stephen Spielberg.
Additionally, he has worked major media events for Coca-Cola, ABC, CBS, NBC, Hallmark Channel, Marriott, Hallmark, NYSE, Nasdaq, Nascar, Grand Ol Opry, K-Mart, Sears, Hershey's, Abbot Laboratories/Binax, Old Navy, Auntie Ann's, J C Penney, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines and many other National Advertisers and Corporations.

• NationalSanta™ — Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
• Official Santa for NYC Tree Lightings at FOX and NYSE
• Santa in commercials for Oreo, Sears, Target, Dannon, Ritz, Cool Whip, Planters, and others
• Host of “Santa Has a Podcast” across major podcast and social platforms
• Santa for Mariah Carey concerts and a Madison Square Garden TV special
• Hollywood Christmas Parade’s Official Santa for 20 years
• Leading U.S. expert on Santa Claus and the Santa business
• Celebrity spokesperson for major national campaigns
• Author of “Behind the Red Suit” and “Santa’s Hints for Surviving the Holidays”
• 2011 International Santa Claus Hall of Fame inductee
America’s leading real-bearded celebrity Santa, “National Santa,” brings energy and holiday sparkle to family greetings, tree lightings, and other events.
During the Christmas season, National Santa is based at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square serving NYC and the world. With more than 50 years in his Swarovski-Crystal adorned Red Suit, he appears at parties, media events, broadcasts, corporate gatherings, televised tree lightings, and Mariah Carey’s Madison Square Garden holiday concerts.
Santa Tim is a performer, comedian, speaker, producer, consultant, and author of “Santa’s Tips to Surviving the Holidays,” a guide to a stress-free Christmas. He also writes articles on holiday preparation.

He hosts “Santa Has a Podcast,” released weekly until Thanksgiving and daily through Christmas.

NationalSanta™ appears at televised events, tree lightings, parades, Fortune 500 gatherings, and celebrity parties worldwide, bringing holiday cheer to millions.

He has appeared in more than 75 television shows, specials, and films, plus hundreds of interviews. Based at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square during the holidays, he serves media, corporate, and family events. Clients include American Express, Capitol Records, ABC/Disney, Paramount/CBS, Hallmark Channel, NBC/Universal, the New York Marriott Marquis, the New York Stock Exchange, Los Angeles Country Club, The Salvation Army, St. Regis Resorts, Kmart, the USO, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Reese Witherspoon, Candy Spelling, Joel Silver, Marvin and Barbara Davis, and Steven Spielberg.

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation named him “National Santa,” and he still volunteers annually. He also supports NYU’s Langenfeld Children’s Hospital, Tunnel to Towers, disaster relief, and Magical Maui Christmas. He was the Hollywood Christmas Parade’s Official Santa from 2004–2023 and entered the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2011.

His television appearances include Dr. Phil, The Today Show, CBS Morning Show, Fox & Friends, The Mariah Carey CBS Christmas Special, The Grand Ole Opry, NASCAR, Magical Maui Christmas, The Tonight Show, The Doctors, Mad TV, Deal or No Deal, and The Ryan Seacrest Show. Screen credits include “Castle,” “It’s Complicated,” “Southland,” “Suburgatory,” “Cinema Vérité,” and “The Mentalist.”

He travels nationwide and has worked with the Kodak/Dolby Theatre, The Grove, Hollywood & Highland, Rodeo Drive merchants, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, Capitol Records, The Grand Ole Opry, Los Angeles Country Club, The Salvation Army, St. Regis Resort and Spa, Arnold Palmer Resorts, Kmart, the USO, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Reese Witherspoon, Candy Spelling, Joel Silver, Marvin and Barbara Davis, and Steven Spielberg.

National Santa has advertised and represented brands including Amazon, Abbott Laboratories, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Coca-Cola, Dannon, Hallmark, Hershey’s, JCPenney, Kraft Foods, Macy’s, Marriott, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nabisco, Old Navy, Oreo, Target, Planters, Ritz, Sam’s Club, Swisscom, Southwest Airlines, Tiffany & Co., Walmart, and White Castle.

Connaghan is a year-round Santa who runs School4Santas, the International University of Santa Claus. Over 24 years, he has graduated nearly 6,000 Santas and Mrs. Clauses. Based on his book “Behind the Red Suit — The Business of Santa Claus,” the world’s largest annual professional Santa school welcomes graduates into the “Red Suit Society.” Courses have sailed on select Princess Cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe, and the school appeared in a Travel Channel holiday special filmed aboard a Princess cruise.

He also offers virtual visits and Cameo calls and hosts “Santa Has a Podcast” across major social platforms.

He has appeared in documentaries and news programs on the History Channel, National Geographic, the Travel Channel, and USA Network.

Santa Tim’s annual “Red Suit Survey” and Santa community leadership have earned appearances on The Neil Cavuto Show, CNN, NBC, ABC’s Nightline, Bloomberg News, Fox News, and PBS. The latest survey was released October 1, 2026.

His interviews have appeared in Time, The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, the Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of media stories worldwide.
His honors include the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Public Service Medal for years of Toys for Tots volunteer work and his December 2011 induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in Santa Claus, Indiana.
Santa Tim is a performer, comedian, speaker, producer, consultant, and author of “Santa’s Tips to Surviving the Holidays,” a practical guide to holiday planning and a stress-free Christmas. He also writes articles on holiday preparation.

To help make National Santa’s visit/appearance a most enjoyable event, we have prepared the following list of suggestions. Some of these may apply to your event and we hope this will assist you.

1. National Santa's appearances are a minimum of 2-hour, except for personal home visits, which can be one hour.
2. Each venue is different. Santa is a senior citizen and needs to park as close as possible to the event location. If at home, a parking space in front of the home is required. For NYC events he will arrive by Uber/Lyft/Taxi at the venue address, where the host or a representative will meet Santa and escort him to the event location. He normally like to arrive in full red attire, but can arrive incognito if requested to preserve the surprise of his appearance.
3. NationalSanta has the option of arriving fifteen to thirty minutes in advance, in full “red” wardrobe, unless otherwise requested to arrive incognito. If incognito, he will often arrive thirty to sixty minutes in advance and client needs to provide an area or office for him to change into his wardrobe.
For Early morning schedules, before 10:00 am, and late-night schedules, after 7 pm, or rigorous work, pre or post event lodging near the venue may be necessary. This is a definite for NYC or if the work is outside of Santa's normal work area. Additionally, transportation more than fifteen miles to and from the venue may be required.
4. Depending on the event, location, and times, etc., it may be necessary if Santa has to dress at the event, for Santa to have a dressing area with privacy. The dressing area does not need to be a formal dressing room and can be a simple meeting room with a private restroom nearby where he can take care of his hair and make-up in privacy. In no case shall Santa be in the same restroom with children or event guests. In this case you will need to supply a restroom or office where he can change in privacy.
5. National Santa has his own wardrobe and takes care of his own hair styling and make-up, whether for a normal public event or television. Of course, the client can consult with National Santa and arrange other wardrobe and details as they desire.
6. When Santa arrives, he requests that a host or guide meet him curbside, at the entrance to the venue, and assist him getting to the venue. This is important, especially if there is more than one company or corporation in the building. Having a guide allows him to quickly get to your location without being stopped or being the victim of a friendly hijack by another company. The Host can also assist Santa with details on the venue and help load any presents.
7. If there is a balance or payment due, we suggest that this be taken place at the beginning of Santas arrival and before he makes his appearance. Never pay Santa in Public! If needed, place any payment inside a Christmas card or envelope. Never give Santa money in front of the Children. It can ruin the magic of the moment. The host or coordinator meeting Santa outside may also take care of any final payments that are due before Santa enters.
8. Have a sturdy chair or Santa-throne, if the work is sitting for photos. The seat must not be any higher than eighteen inches or should have a stool that compensates for a higher seat. Or you can supply a sturdy chair for Santa to sit in. Folding and resin chairs are unacceptable as they will not support the weight of Santa and guests sitting on his lap. Additionally low chairs (the one’s you sink into) are not good. Santa usually likes a chair that is sturdy and stable. A good straight-back dining chair, with no arms, works well. He should be able to sit comfortably, and the chair needs to support him plus a child on each knee.
Place the Chair near your Christmas tree or in a holiday setting. Your photos will have more impact when the background has a festive look. Place a wreath, a few Christmas cards, or your children’s drawings on the wall to make a wonderful difference. Leave a foot or two between the chair and the tree or wall. This will allow room for others to gather around and behind Santa’s chair for group photos. Fireplaces do look nice but remember putting Santa too close to a real fire is not good for his comfort or health! Additionally, if any fire is with natural wood, the creosote and smoke residue can permanently damage Santa's suit and especially his fur. The client is liable for the cost of deep cleaning and any damages Santas Suit, Robe, and/or hat.
9. It is recommended that set temperature be around 65 Degrees or that something is arranged to keep Santa cool while working. Due to Santas thick and heavy wardrobe, efforts must be made to keep him cool and comfortable to ensure peak performance for the client. If working on a set or special venue where the temperatures could exceed 75 - 80 degrees, a small fan nearby is necessary to keep him cool.
10. If the work involves moving around the city, limousine or Livery SUV is required with maximum Air Conditioning and Large doors for ease in entering and exiting. This is necessary due to the restrictions of his wardrobe, etc.
11. Cool Water is always necessary, and appropriate performance breaks are necessary, usually ten minutes after the first hour and then hourly after that. If this is an all-day job, a lunch break should be scheduled half-way through, however this can be adjusted to fit the event.
12. MEALS - Please note that due to his 'Real" white beard, any meals or foods must be easy to eat. National Santa wants to look his best for you, so please no Pizza, Ribs, Chicken Wings, or anything with Marinara sauce, or other dark sauces, which could end up in his beard or mustache. Most Salads, sandwiches, etc. are fine as he can make sure everything is bite sized and can easily get past the beard and moustache and into his mouth. Oh, and straws help him in drinking any beverage without tell-tale signs.
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