Santa John, the San Jose Santa
Thanksgiving Wishes
Overview
As Santa John:
Hello and Merry Christmas!
Since 2004 I have been a professional real bearded Santa. I wear real boots and have a custom made Santa suit.
As a Balloon Twister:
Someone once called me "the Pied Piper of balloons." When I asked what she meant, she said that for some reason, everyone seems to be fascinated when I am twisting for the kids, even people who didn't think they were interested in balloons. Being the twister at several bay area farmers' markets since 2004, I've entertained thousands of children & adults with my balloon art. My art doesn't come from twisting, but from entertaining while I create my balloon sculptures.
Reviews
56 reviews
Eileen D.
December 26, 2025Great with the little ones and adults alike!
The fun filled outdoor night of Christmas games and hot cocoa bars with our special visit from Santa! We lucked out and didn’t have any rain so the kids were able to sit and listen to Santa as he talked to each child individually. A night to remember for the little ones!
Hired as: Santa Claus
Jennifer J.
December 26, 2025Wonderful Christmas visit
Santa John was a spectacular edition to our family Christmas gathering. He arrived promptly and looked amazing. He delivered gifts to family members and was really engaging with my 3yr old great niece. She loved it. I highly recommend Santa John.
Hired as: Santa Claus
Anusha K.
December 23, 2025Most Magical Santa time ever
He was remarkable and so delightful! Kids really enjoyed and so did all of us!
Hired as: Balloon Twister, Santa Claus
Craig B.
December 16, 2025The Real Deal Holyfield!
We booked San Jose Santa John for our school, and he absolutely delighted everyone — students, parents, and staff alike. From the moment he arrived, the magic was real. His warmth, authenticity, and joyful presence created unforgettable moments for our community. If there were more than one “real” Santa, we’d have him at every event nationwide — but alas, there’s only one, and he clearly calls San Jose home. Highly recommended for any event that wants true holiday magic.
Hired as: Santa Claus
Booking information
Price range: Contact for rates
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 240 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000
What to expect
My Santa visit normally consists of is a big entrance, with lots of bell ringing and ho ho ho's. Then a short meet and greet for a few people before starting visits with the children.
For the visit, I offer them to sit on my lap and we pose for pictures. After the pictures, I spend some time with each child asking if they are having a good time, have they been good this year. I may ask them to tell me what good things they done. Then I ask them if there is anything special they would like for Christmas. I repeat it back loud enough so that the parent can hear what was request. If candy canes or gifts are provided, I hand one to the child and go onto the next child.
After I have visited with the children I am available for family pictures. After any group pictures, I can read "T'was The Night Before Christmas" and as the book reached the end with the storybook Santa proclaiming "Merry Christmas to All and to All a good night", I stand up and repeat the line and exit to head back to the north pole.
Services offered
Upcoming booked events
July 2026
24
Friday
Festival
2:00pm - 4:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
Past booked events
December 2025
26
Friday
Christmas Party
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Fremont, CA
25
Thursday
Dinner Party
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Milpitas, CA
24
Wednesday
Christmas Party
7:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
24
Wednesday
Personal Occasion
9:30am - 9:45am
•
San Jose, CA
23
Tuesday
Christmas Party
4:30pm - 5:15pm
•
Santa Cruz, CA
21
Sunday
Surprise
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
20
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Santa Clara, CA
20
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
19
Friday
Corporate Event
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
San Mateo, CA
12
Friday
Campus Event
9:30am - 11:00am
•
Newark, CA
10
Wednesday
Corporate Event
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Los Altos, CA
09
Tuesday
School Assembly
9:30am - 11:30am
•
Sunnyvale, CA
07
Sunday
Christmas Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
05
Friday
Christmas Party
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Portola Valley, CA
November 2025
30
Sunday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
December 2024
24
Tuesday
Christmas Party
6:30pm - 7:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
16
Monday
Christmas Party
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Santa Clara, CA
15
Sunday
Christmas Party
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
14
Saturday
Dinner Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
06
Friday
Christmas Party
3:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Portola Valley, CA
December 2023
25
Monday
Surprise
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
21
Thursday
Christmas Party
9:00am - 10:00am
•
San Jose, CA
16
Saturday
Dinner Party
8:30pm - 9:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
13
Wednesday
Dinner Party
8:30pm - 8:45pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
12
Tuesday
Corporate Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Los Altos, CA
09
Saturday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
09
Saturday
Christmas Party
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Cupertino, CA
03
Sunday
Corporate Event
9:30am - 12:00pm
•
Los Altos, CA
02
Saturday
Christmas Party
9:00am - 11:30am
•
San Jose, CA
November 2023
30
Thursday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
December 2022
24
Saturday
House Party
8:30pm - 9:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
23
Friday
House Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Saratoga, CA
21
Wednesday
Personal Occasion
10:00am - 10:30am
•
Redwood City, CA
17
Saturday
Corporate Event
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
10
Saturday
Corporate Event
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Menlo Park, CA
04
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
5:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Mountain View, CA
03
Saturday
Christmas Party
12:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Fremont, CA
02
Friday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
September 2022
25
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
12:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Portola Valley, CA
December 2021
24
Friday
Christmas Party
11:30pm - 12:00am (Sat)
•
Santa Clara, CA
24
Friday
Personal Occasion
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
24
Friday
Surprise
11:00am - 11:30am
•
San Jose, CA
20
Monday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
20
Monday
Personal Occasion
9:00am - 9:30am
•
San Jose, CA
19
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
8:00am - 2:00pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
18
Saturday
Christmas Party
4:30pm - 5:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
16
Thursday
Christmas Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Mountain View, CA
11
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
10
Friday
Nonprofit Event
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Mountain View, CA
04
Saturday
House Party
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Campbell, CA
02
Thursday
Corporate Event
11:30pm - 1:30am (Fri)
•
San Jose, CA
December 2019
31
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
8:30pm - 9:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
24
Tuesday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Morgan Hill, CA
22
Sunday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 5:45pm
•
Saratoga, CA
22
Sunday
Children's Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
21
Saturday
Corporate Event
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
San Mateo, CA
20
Friday
Corporate Event
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
19
Thursday
Christmas Party
10:30am - 11:00am
•
Los Altos, CA
11
Wednesday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
08
Sunday
Christmas Party
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
08
Sunday
Christmas Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
07
Saturday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
07
Saturday
Christmas Party
3:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
07
Saturday
Corporate Event
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
05
Thursday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 6:45pm
•
San Jose, CA
October 2019
08
Tuesday
Corporate Event
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Santa Clara, CA
05
Saturday
Religious Celebration
1:00pm - 2:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
December 2018
24
Monday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 5:15pm
•
Morgan Hill, CA
19
Wednesday
Christmas Party
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Los Altos, CA
16
Sunday
Christmas Party
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
15
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
14
Friday
Christmas Party
8:30pm - 9:15pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
12
Wednesday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Mountain View, CA
10
Monday
Corporate Event
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
08
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
November 2018
09
Friday
Personal Occasion
1:00pm - 4:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
September 2018
21
Friday
Children's Birthday Party
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
May 2018
05
Saturday
House Party
1:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Milpitas, CA
December 2017
24
Sunday
Christmas Party
9:30pm - 10:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
22
Friday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
21
Thursday
Christmas Party
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
16
Saturday
Christmas Party
8:00pm - 9:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
16
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Fremont, CA
15
Friday
Christmas Party
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
13
Wednesday
Corporate Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Mountain View, CA
11
Monday
Corporate Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
San Carlos, CA
November 2017
26
Sunday
Corporate Event
9:00am - 11:00am
•
Cupertino, CA
December 2016
31
Saturday
Holiday Party (New Year)
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Monte Sereno, CA
25
Sunday
Dinner Party
1:00am - 2:30am
•
San Leandro, CA
24
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
5:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Morgan Hill, CA
23
Friday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
6:30pm - 8:30pm
•
Los Altos, CA
23
Friday
Holiday Party (Other)
3:00pm - 6:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
17
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Santa Clara, CA
16
Friday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
1:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
10
Saturday
Birthday (Child)
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
03
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
December 2015
24
Thursday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
10:30pm - 11:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
23
Wednesday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
7:30pm - 10:00pm
•
Milpitas, CA
21
Monday
House Party
10:00am - 12:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
20
Sunday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
19
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
18
Friday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Cupertino, CA
18
Friday
House Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
18
Friday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
13
Sunday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
3:30pm - 5:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
12
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Campbell, CA
12
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
10
Thursday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
1:30pm - 4:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
06
Sunday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
05
Saturday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
3:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
04
Friday
Holiday Party (Christmas)
6:00pm - 9:30pm
•
Atherton, CA
November 2015
02
Monday
Corporate Event
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Redwood City, CA
December 2014
24
Wednesday
Other
6:30pm - 7:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
20
Saturday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 10:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
13
Saturday
Christmas Party
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
12
Friday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Gilroy, CA
06
Saturday
Other
5:30pm - 6:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
November 2014
29
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:30pm - 7:15pm
•
San Jose, CA
29
Saturday
Other
10:00am - 2:00pm
•
Scotts Valley, CA
December 2013
24
Tuesday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 5:45pm
•
San Jose, CA
20
Friday
Other
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
18
Wednesday
Other
7:30pm - 7:45pm
•
Sunnyvale, CA
07
Saturday
Holiday Party
1:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Redwood City, CA
05
Thursday
Christmas Party
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
December 2012
24
Monday
Other
10:30pm - 11:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
22
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
15
Saturday
Holiday Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
Influences and inspiration
Kris Kringle, St. Nicholas, Sinter Klass, Father Christmas, Pere Noel