And that's a wrap!

I just wrapped up my first year at Miracle at Big Rock a little over a week ago, so I figured now's a good time to look back and share some final thoughts on my experience.

Being part of something so massive was an incredible experience for me, and I just have to share my excitement with you! At 60 years old, I never imagined I'd be doing this five years ago. I used to be a quieter person, to the point where some folks thought I was stuck up or didn't like them. But surprisingly, putting on the red suit has helped me break out of that shell! I've met SO many amazing people at Miracle, from the staff, vendors, and musicians to all the guests I've interacted with. Each and every one of these interactions has shaped my portrayal of Santa Claus, and saying I'm honored to have had this opportunity is an understatement. I'm eagerly hoping to be back for the 2025 season!

You'd think at an event with tens of thousands of people, you'd bump into someone you know, right? Well, I was surprised that this wasn't the case. I only saw one person I recognized, and I just knew their name and face, nothing more. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bummed about it, just a bit surprised. (Update on this, I learned a couple of weeks ago that there was another person that attended and talked to me, but I failed to recognize them). I met people from other countries who were visiting family for the holiday season. One couple was from Chile. (I wonder if they were chilly being there) haha.

Being Santa means you're basically the main attraction in a photo frenzy. Seriously, I had more pictures taken with kids and adults in one month than ever before. And you know what that means? Smiling, and a lot of it. Now, smiling and I haven't always been best buddies. When I was about 8, I pulled off a stunt so silly it's still with me. I thought it'd be fun to give one of our barn cats a ride on the swing set. Bad idea for the cat, and a total brain fart for me. The cat jumped off right away, and the swing seat swung back and smacked me in the mouth, chipping my front tooth. That genius move got me a shiny stainless steel cap on my front tooth. So, for the next 13 years, I had this shiny tooth right in front. Needless to say, I got teased a lot, and smiling was not on my agenda. Classmates can be brutal, and they definitely were. Fast forward to my early 20s, I finally ditched the shiny tooth. But getting over all that teasing and feeling good about smiling again wasn't easy. It's still something I struggle with, all thanks to my own silliness. So, here's my advice: "Do not, I repeat, DO NOT try to give a cat a ride on a swing seat, because it might just stick with you forever." So, there were moments when my face felt like it was about to clock out and demand overtime pay because... you guessed it, SMILING!

Since I'm donning the big red suit as Santa Claus, I feel like it's my jolly duty to snap pics with as many folks as possible. So, I encouraged everyone, from toddlers to grandpas, to hop in for a photo op. A bunch of older folks told me after their snapshots that this was the best Christmas ever, just from the experience. If that doesn't tickle my festive funny bone, I don't know what will. Lots of young adults grumble things like, "I'm too old for pictures with Santa." When I hear that, you know what I do? I waddle over and we snap a selfie or two, reminding them that you're NEVER too old for Santa pics. And guess what? I’ve never received a single lump of coal for doing this!

And then... fireworks lit up the sky! Every Friday night at 8:30 pm, there's an exhilarating fireworks show, lasting about 10 to 15 minutes. At first, I didn't know what to expect, but let me tell you, this Santa believes it's one of the most spectacular displays he's witnessed in a long time! You absolutely have to stay until the grand finale. They launch this massive fireball that soars 50 feet or more into the air. I have no idea how they pull it off, but I suspect it involves some kind of petroleum magic. Saying I was impressed doesn't even begin to cover it!

If you haven’t been to Miracle at Big Rock Creek yet, you absolutely must go! I’d heard about it before but never visited, and now that I’ve experienced it, I can’t believe what I was missing! The name “Miracle” truly captures the essence. It’s a mesmerizing place where, for a moment, you forget about everything else beyond this enchanting location. From the millions of dazzling lights to endless photo opportunities, the lively music, incredible vendors, delicious beverages, and mouthwatering food options—I can't even begin to capture it all here. You absolutely have to experience it for yourself. It's beyond words!

Until next time, let's spread kindness, stay safe, and keep healthy! We're all sharing this world, so let's make the very best of it while we're here!

Santa