Santa PopPop

Real bearded Santa
Visits by and with Mrs. Claus
Professional suits and outfits
Love having a storytime with the kids
Kid and Adult friendly
Grinch available as well as other characters

HO HO HO! Meet Santa PopPop!

Hi there! I’m Santa PopPop — also known as Brad Hanke during those other months when the sleigh is parked and the reindeer are taking it easy.

For me, being Santa is much more than putting on the red suit. It’s about creating genuine Christmas memories for children, families, and communities while celebrating the joy, hope, and true meaning of the Christmas season.

I’m a father of three and grandfather to 14, so children have always been a big part of my life. I especially love those first meetings with Santa — from an excited child running across the room for a hug to a wide-eyed toddler or a baby settling into Santa’s arms. Around our family, I’ve been known as the “baby hog” for years, so Santa is always happy to hold the little ones!

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of appearing at everything from intimate family gatherings to large community and corporate events. Santa PopPop and The Endearing Mrs. Claus have been selected to represent Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Lakeland Christmas Parade, and I’ve been honored to be part of Christmas celebrations at Bonnet Springs Park, along with hospitals, schools, businesses, charitable events, photo experiences, and community celebrations throughout Central Florida.

Every visit is tailored to the occasion. I can hear Christmas wishes, pose for plenty of photos, hand out presents, interact with guests, and share stories from the North Pole. As a children’s Christmas author, storytelling is an especially important part of what I do, and I can bring one of Santa’s own stories along for a memorable storytime experience.

And when the occasion calls for both of us, The Endearing Mrs. Claus joins Santa to create a complete Claus experience. Together, The Endearing Clauses bring warmth, humor, storytelling, and natural interaction that works beautifully for family gatherings, corporate events, community celebrations, schools, and special Christmas experiences.

Whether there are five children gathered around Santa’s chair or hundreds of guests at a community event, my goal is the same: make the experience personal, believable, and memorable.

Christmas should still have a little wonder in it.

And Santa PopPop might just have a trick or two up his sleeve!

Santa PopPop & The Endearing Mrs. Claus, The Endearing Clauses, Professional Santa & Mrs. Claus • Storytelling • Family & Corporate Events • Community Appearances Lakeland Polk County and Central Florida

We will want a good firm, armless chair or bench for sitting for photos.
For best photos, please look at what will be framed in the picture. Plain background.
If the event is longer than 30 minutes, we request chilled, bottled water.