Santa Claus Matt

Appleton, WI

Starts at $150 per hour

Travels up to 120 miles

Get a free quick quote
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US Embassy Christmas Party, Yaoundé, Cameroon

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Marine Corps Orphanage Visit- Yaoundé, Cameroon

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Charitable food donation to orphanage- US Embassy Yaoundé, Cameroon

Overview

Santa Claus Matt brings the magic of Christmas to life with warmth, laughter, and memories that last a lifetime!
With 22 years of experience, Santa Matt serves Northeast and Eastern Wisconsin, offering personalized visits for family gatherings, corporate celebrations, holiday parties, community festivals, charitable events, photo sessions, and special occasions for children and adults alike. Professional, insured, and dedicated to making every guest feel special, Santa Matt believes the greatest gift Santa brings isn't found beneath the tree. It's the magic of believing!


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Booking information

Price range: Starts at $150 per hour

Languages: English, French

Gig length: 60 - 180 minutes

Insurance: $1,000,000 - General Liability

What to expect

What to Expect When Santa Claus Matt Comes to Visit

When Santa Claus Matt arrives, the magic of Christmas comes with him!

Dressed in a beautiful, custom-made red velvet suit, with a genuine white beard, a warm smile, and a hearty "Ho, Ho, Ho!", Santa Matt brings an authentic North Pole experience to celebrations of all kinds.

Every appearance is tailored to your event. Whether you're planning an intimate family gathering, a corporate holiday party, a community festival, a restaurant promotion, a charitable celebration, or a professional photo session, Santa works with you to help create the atmosphere and experience you envision.

A Personal Visit with Santa

For children, a visit with Santa should be something special, never hurried or intimidating. Santa takes time to listen to Christmas wishes, answer questions about the North Pole, share a little Christmas magic, and pose for photographs.

Some children are bursting with excitement. Others are shy, uncertain, or meeting Santa for the very first time. Santa understands that every child is different and approaches each interaction with patience, kindness, and a gentle sense of humor.

And Santa certainly hasn't forgotten the grown-ups! Adults are always welcome to share a laugh, pose for a photograph, or rediscover a little of the Christmas wonder they remember from childhood.

Holiday Parties and Special Events

For larger gatherings, Santa can greet guests, mingle with families, participate in planned activities, distribute gifts provided by the host, and help create memorable photo opportunities.

For private home visits, Santa can make a special entrance, greet the family, listen to Christmas wishes, and help present gifts prepared in advance by parents or hosts.

For businesses and community organizations, Santa provides a friendly, engaging presence that helps make holiday celebrations welcoming and memorable.

Professionalism Behind the Magic

A successful Santa appearance begins long before the first "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

Santa Matt works with clients ahead of time to understand the event schedule, location, audience, and any special requests. The goal is to make the visit enjoyable for guests and as smooth and stress-free as possible for the organizer.

With 22 years of Santa experience, professional liability insurance, and a commitment to safety and respectful interactions, Santa Matt takes both the magic and the responsibility of portraying Santa Claus seriously.

Above all, Santa believes that the most important part of every appearance isn't the costume, the photographs, or even the presents. It's making people feel special.

Whether your event includes five guests or five hundred, Santa Claus Matt looks forward to helping you create Christmas memories that will last a lifetime.

Santa Claus Matt — Appearance Rates

My standard appearance rate is $150 per hour.

Travel within one hour of the Appleton/Grand Chute area is included. For locations requiring between one and two hours of travel each way, a $50 travel fee applies. More distant appearances are quoted individually.

Special arrangements may be available for charitable and community events, multiple bookings, and returning clients.

Every appearance receives the same professional preparation, personal attention, and commitment to creating wonderful Christmas memories.

Bringing the Magic of Christmas to Life, All Year Round!

Santa Claus Matt — Bringing the Magic of Christmas to Life, All Year Round!

About

Meet Santa Claus Matt

For more than 22 years, I've had the wonderful privilege of bringing the magic of Santa Claus to children and families. For most of those years, being Santa was a cherished holiday tradition alongside my 30-year career as a United States Foreign Service Officer.

Following my retirement in 2026, I established SantaClausMatt LLC to turn that longtime passion into a professional venture. While my business and GigSalad profile may be new, the man in the red suit has been spreading Christmas cheer for more than two decades!

My diplomatic career took me around the world, reinforcing something I've always believed: kindness, generosity, and love are understood in every language. Today, I'm delighted to bring that spirit to families, businesses, and communities throughout Northeast and Eastern Wisconsin.

My traditional Santa suit was lovingly handmade by my wife, Lisa, who shares my enthusiasm for making Christmas special. Together, we're building a family business dedicated to creating authentic, memorable holiday experiences.

As a father of five, I know how precious childhood Christmas memories can be. Whether listening to a Christmas wish, sharing a story, or posing for photographs, I believe everyone deserves individual attention. Some children rush forward with excitement; others need patience, reassurance, and a gentle smile. Every child is different, and every visit should reflect that.

I bring 22 years of Santa experience, professional liability insurance, and a commitment to making every appearance safe, welcoming, and memorable.

My personal motto is Omnia Vincit Amor — Love Conquers All.

Because the greatest gift Santa brings isn't found beneath the Christmas tree. It's the joy, wonder, and love we share with one another.

Santa Claus Matt — Bringing the Magic of Christmas to Life, All Year Round!

Additional booking notes

Technical Requirements & Event Preparation

Santa Claus Matt requires no special lighting, sound equipment, or staging for most appearances. A little advance planning, however, helps ensure a comfortable, safe, and magical experience for everyone!

Seating: A sturdy, comfortable chair suitable for Santa's traditional suit is appreciated, preferably in an attractive location with enough space for children and families to gather and take photographs. A festive backdrop is always welcome but isn't required.

Lighting: Good lighting is helpful for photographs. Natural light or existing indoor lighting is usually sufficient. For professional photography sessions, lighting arrangements should be coordinated with the photographer.

Space and Accessibility: Please provide a safe, accessible location with adequate room for guests to approach Santa comfortably. For larger events, a designated waiting area and someone to assist with organizing the line are appreciated.

Temperature: Santa's traditional velvet suit is quite warm! A reasonably cool indoor location is preferred. For outdoor events, please arrange appropriate shelter from rain, snow, or excessive heat.

Arrival and Preparation: Whenever possible, Santa appreciates access to a private area to make final wardrobe adjustments before his grand entrance. Convenient parking and a discreet entrance are especially helpful for preserving the Christmas magic.

Sound: No sound system is required for ordinary visits. For large audiences or events involving announcements, a microphone may be helpful and can be arranged in advance.

Gifts: Santa is happy to distribute gifts provided and organized by the client. Please coordinate these arrangements beforehand so that each child receives the correct gift.

Safety: For everyone's comfort and protection, a parent, guardian, or designated event representative must be present during interactions with children. Santa does not conduct unsupervised, one-on-one visits with minors.

Special Requests: Every event is different! Santa Matt welcomes advance discussions about schedules, accessibility needs, photographs, planned activities, and other arrangements that will help make your celebration a success.

The goal is simple: thoughtful preparation behind the scenes, so that all your guests see is the magic of Christmas!

Upcoming booked events

December 2026

12

Saturday

Corporate Event

9:00am - 11:00am

•

Waunakee, WI

Set list

Jingle Bells
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Silent Night
Frosty the Snowman
Deck the Halls

Influences and inspiration

I think it is Santa Claus, and Christmas itself, that have influenced me most and brought me to this point in my life.

As a child, the Christmas season was always the happiest time of year, even when things weren't going particularly well in other areas of life. Christmas seemed to bring out the best in everyone around me. People were kinder to one another. Decorations made the world brighter and more festive. For a little while, the world seemed to set aside its everyday troubles and become a nicer, happier place.

As I grew older, that feeling never diminished. Throughout my personal and professional life, I've often turned to the spirit of Christmas as a reminder of how I believe the world should be all year round.

When I looked at Santa Claus, I saw someone who was always kind, always welcoming, always patient, and always positive. He treated everyone with warmth and generosity, expecting nothing in return. That was the kind of person I wanted to be.

Perhaps the perfect personification of Santa Claus is an ideal none of us can ever fully achieve. But by striving to be kinder, offering a smile and a thoughtful word to everyone I meet, and, of course, being the very best Santa Claus I can be for children and adults alike, I hope to make my little corner of the world a better place.

Setup requirements

See the "Technical Requirements and Event Preparation" section. Santa Claus Matt does everything he can to be low maintenance and a member of the client's team.

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