Roswell Santa

I am a real bearded Santa. I look like Santa Claus no matter how I dress, so I am always ready to be Santa to anyone who encounters me. I provide an authentic Santa experience whether I am in my street clothes or my official dress reds. After encountering me children believe Santa is definitely real and many adults question their skepticism about Santa’s existence.

Besides being an actor who portrays Santa, I am a singer and will perform at your party or event, comfortable leading Christmas carols, or serving as a KJ for your karaoke party. I am a public speaker, so I am ready to read Christmas stories to your guests or to deliver an inspirational message to your church or community group. I am an excellent chef, so I would be comfortable helping a group of children make an edible creation suitable to be given as a gift, doing cooking demonstrations of holidays foods, or being the emcee for a holiday cooking/entertaining event (private or public). I can also act in other roles than Santa.

I am a photographer, so I am able to work well with other photographers to help families get memorable photographs. I also have experience working with people some might consider difficult to work with and have an incredible amount of patience with them. I am a father who raised children on the autism spectrum, so I am quick to recognize the needs of a special needs individual and quickly adapt to comfortably accommodate them. Animals, in general, love me, so I am comfortable posing with pets. I genuinely love people and frequently spend time connecting with those others generally avoid, so I am comfortable appearing at events targeted to serve the needy and the homeless.

Why Do I Present Myself as Santa Claus All Year Long?
By Santa John Charles Donahue

I have seen all kinds of disparaging comments made on social media about real bearded Santa’s, like me, answer to being Santa Claus all year long. Many of us have lots of casual clothing in our wardrobe that keeps the recognition as Santa going as much as possible. Some of the worst comments I have seen have come from fellow entertainers who do other things throughout the year, like clowning or appearing as other costumed characters. Every one of these comments also came from someone who doesn’t have a beard, and their Santa presentation is like most mall or department store Santas—a cheap, ill-fitting suit and an awful looking fake beard on someone willing to do “it” for just over minimum wage. Unless they have been given a script, they generally just ask a child what they want for Christmas while a picture is being taken. Very little magic, and definitely not what would be labeled as an experience.

Before my inbox starts filling up with hate mail from non-bearded individuals. I am not referring to all of you who wear amazing designer beards, have amazing Santa suits (many I wish I could afford), and put the effort into making every encounter with you is a magical and memorable experience. You guys are awesome, and you deserve to be in the same class as us bearded Santas. My experience is a little different from yours because unless I shave my beard, which I have only done a handful of times in my adult life and regretted it every time, I will always look like Santa.

I get recognized as Santa Claus all year long, no matter what I am wearing, no matter where I am. Adults do double takes when passing me while shopping. I hear whispers from passersby. Little kids yell, “Mommy that was Santa.” When I drive someone to the airport and help them get their bags out of the back of my car phones appear and weary travelers suddenly have smiles on their faces. I get passed on the highway by excited passengers in other cars with their phones out recording the moment. I get stopped for pictures, hugs, and questions about as often as a fan-friendly celebrity does.

So, where did this all start for me? It really started about 15 years ago, when after I stopped trimming my beard for “No-Shave November”, people would do double takes when out shopping in December. The following year I stopped trimming my beard on September first and anytime I went out between thanksgiving and Christmas I always had a Santa hat on. Then in January of 2020 I was hospitalized for a severe infection that required surgical debridement, and a ten day stay in the hospital. I had been too busy and sick during January to do my normal trimming of the beard. While I was in the hospital my wound specialist was a professional Santa, and he ran a Santa service. He tried to recruit me, but I live three hours away from there, so it was a non-starter.

Immediately after I got out of the hospital the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 virus happened, and we were locked down in quarantine. But, when we began to open back up in 2021, the reaction to encountering Santa only increased. People were so desperate for a return to normalcy that they were quick to latch onto anything that brought them even just a moment of joy. Everywhere I went I would see people photographing and filming me. I am an encourager by nature, so I quickly realized the gift I had been given and recognized the need to share it. So, I started wearing red as much as possible and went out prepared to respond as Santa whenever someone reacted to encountering me.

When November came around, I started carrying peppermint candles with me and gave them out to people who approached me because they saw Santa when looking at me. The response exploded from people and by the end of the month my wife and my mom were sewing me my first Santa Suit.

To my astonishment I discovered after Christmas that people still needed positive things to cling to in hopes of one day returning to life as we once knew it. I then realized that the gift I had been blessed with was bigger than I ever would have imagined. Suddenly, we were approaching Spring and the reaction to unexpectedly running into Santa hadn’t waned. I now had a mission. As Santa I have the opportunity to brighten people’s day just by crossing paths with them. I get to encourage them, inspire them, pray for them, and give them a moment of my time.

One of my favorite things about looking like Santa is that people see me as safe to approach. Because of this I get approached by many people who are reticent to the inherent risk of reaching out to a stranger. Whether they fear rejection or believe they are invisible to other people, they trust Santa will not reject them. This enables me to be a blessing to those who may need it the most.

What maybe one of my favorite things about being Santa are those encounters that I have with the “invisible people” in our midst. I am not wealthy. I don’t have the ability to give away a lot of material things to those most in need, but I have discovered that a willingness to stop and share a moment with one of these precious, overlooked souls is more valuable than you can put a price on. I get to make feel seen. After encountering me they know that they have been heard and they are cared for by someone. I have started looking for them when I am out, and friendships have begun to form.

I will admit that the blessing that I can be to others does not flow in only one direction. It does my soul so much good to see the deep effect my kindness often has on others. I am also greatly blessed. Whenever I am a little depressed, I go window shopping and before long my spirits have risen. Occasionally someone comments when Mrs. Claus and I are leaving that we did not buy anything, and my wonderful wife just responds, “He was just collecting smiles today.”

Contrary to what people may think, I am an introvert. I am not comfortable drawing attention to myself. I too suffer from the crippling anxiety that the fear of rejection causes. But as Santa I can be outgoing and gregarious. It is still not easy allowing attention to be drawn to me, but when I see all that, I am able to do for others I am able to overcome the fear and take the risk. I am glad that I pushed myself. It is so fulfilling being able to be such a blessing to others and, as an introvert, it does not bother me at all that Santa gets the credit and not John Donahue.

I have a few Santa friends who truly appreciate the opportunity to be a blessing so easily to so many and we all feel the same way. We hope we will be able to continue being a blessing all the way until the day comes and we are called home by our Heavenly Father.