Steve "The Rev Santa" Lantz

I come prepared to entertain. We will go over expectations in advance, so everyone is on the same page. My goal is to exceed expectations, regardless of how high they may be.

Rev Santa — "I Believe in YOU!"

More than a red suit. More than a white beard. A Santa who believes in YOU!

Meet Rev Santa, the official Santa Claus of Zoo Miami, a professional actor, an ordained minister, and, most importantly, a devoted husband and father of two children, ages 13 and 9.

Rev Santa brings something special to the role of Santa Claus: a philosophy inspired by two extraordinary men—Saint Nicholas of Myra, the original Santa Claus, and Fred Rogers, the beloved Mister Rogers.

From Saint Nicholas comes the tradition of generosity, compassion, and giving without expecting anything in return. From Mister Rogers comes the conviction that every child deserves to feel loved, valued, respected, and accepted exactly as they are.

Together, these two inspirations shape everything Rev Santa does.

There is no faith test with this Santa.

As an ordained Christian minister, Rev Santa knows and celebrates the true meaning of Christmas. But he also believes that the joy, kindness, and generosity of the season should be shared with everyone—regardless of their faith, background, or whether they believe in Santa Claus at all.

In a world where Santa often asks children, "Do you believe in me?" Rev Santa turns that question upside down.

His message is simple: "I Believe in YOU!"

Because every child deserves to hear those words. Every child deserves to know that they matter. And every child deserves a little magic.

That philosophy captured hearts around the world when a video of Rev Santa affirming a child who didn't want to sit on his lap went viral internationally. Rather than pressuring the child to participate in a traditional Santa photo, he respected the child's wishes and offered kindness and encouragement instead. The moment sparked worldwide attention and media coverage, demonstrating that sometimes the greatest Christmas magic comes not from getting a child to believe in Santa, but from showing a child that Santa believes in them.

Beyond his work as Zoo Miami's official Santa, Rev Santa is a professional film and television actor whose credits include Burn Notice, Bloodline, War Dogs, and Nickelodeon's Noggin Knows. His portrayal of Santa and his viral moment of compassion have attracted national and international media attention, including coverage by NBC's TODAY, ABC's Good Morning America, Fox News, The New York Post, The Independent (UK), and The Christian Post, with his story reaching audiences around the globe.

But the greatest role he has ever played is being a husband and father. His own children remind him daily just how precious childhood is—and how quickly those magical years pass.

With a busy life devoted to family, ministry, and community service, Rev Santa accepts a limited number of engagements each Christmas season. Whether appearing at a grand parade, a corporate celebration, a school assembly, a community event, or an intimate gathering in your home, he brings the same warmth, wonder, humor, and personal attention to every occasion.

He doesn't just want children to remember meeting Santa.

He wants them to remember how Santa made them feel.

Seen. Valued. Loved. And believed in.

Rev Santa — "I Believe in YOU!"