I have dedicated my life and career to caregiving, working with small children, individuals with special needs, adults, and the elderly. There is little more rewarding. One day at work, I was asked to wear a Santa suit for photographs. A small, wide-eyed child shouted, “I love you, Santa!” Later, a frail, elderly woman asked Santa for one more year of health for her children and grandchildren. I gently replied that I remembered when she was a little girl and would ask Santa for a doll. Her eyes shone brightly, and she squeezed me tight. In that moment, I became Santa.

I am fortunate and grateful to have a radiant Mrs. Claus as my partner. She is my sparkle, embodying freshly baked cookies, tinsel, angels, a silent snowfall, a crackling fire, and a cardinal in the holly tree, all wrapped in the warmest embrace.

Bill Barnsley grew up in a military family, living near or on Marine Corps Air Stations across the country and in the Far East. Over time, he became a father, grandfather, writer, storyteller, teacher, and lifelong learner, with a career spanning public, private, high-tech, retail, service, educational, sales, horticultural, elder care, and medical sectors. More recently, he has been observed talking with elves, wearing red, nibbling on cookies, and writing stories of the North Pole. Jude, his constant companion, brings joy to everything he does. She is his sparkle.

It was 1962 when a heart-broken 15 year old first put on a Santa Claus suit for his Sunday school class. Little did he know that God was giving him a special purpose for his life.

This year marks the 58th year that Santa Cliff Snider from High Point, NC has expressed his love for Christmas to young and old. A 1995 graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School, Cliff has been featured in over seventy-five paintings of Santa Claus. He also has a Doctor of Santa Claus degree from the International University of Santa Claus. His book, “Santa’s Journey” chronicles his personal story of his Santa ministry.

Santa Cliff has been featured on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club,” on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Society’s website and in “Guideposts” magazine. In August of 2012 he was awarded by the governor “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine,” North Carolina’s highest award for a citizen of the state for his fifty years of service to the children of North Carolina as Santa Claus. Also in 2012 he was inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in Santa Claus, Indiana along with character actor Mickey Rooney.

Through paintings, fine-art photographs and manufactured gift products, Santa Cliff’s image has become America’s most recognized Santa Claus.

Santa Cliff Snider is available for personal appearances, corporate visits, as a featured motivational speaker and storyteller and for television and radio commercials as well as printed-media interviews.

Santa Doug Eberhart has been portraying Santa Claus for 47 years. He started his acting career in Massillon, Ohio at Washington High School and began as Santa when he was 14 years old. His mother Sandy made his first Santa suit out of an XL men’s pajama pattern. Doug began by doing “Santa gigs” for friends and neighbors and worked his way into doing home visits. Being a large football player, (offensive center) Doug continued his passion for playing Old Saint Nick through his college years at Princeton University where he graduated in 1985.

 

Upon graduation, Santa Doug moved to Charlotte, NC and continued his portrayal up until this day. He has entertained over 20,000 children and adults. He is a member of IBRBS, Santa USA and prefers to use a designer beard due to his work in the medical field. Being a Designer Bearded Santa has not slowed down Santa Doug’s business. He has been Santa Claus for TV commercials, The Carolina Panthers, Department stores, Grocery Chains, numerous corporate parties and hundreds of home visits.

Santa Doug has gone to numerous Santa schools and classes including the C.W. Howard school. He fills his schedule with about 75 gigs per season. Santa Doug is known for wearing numerous Santa outfits that are beyond the traditional. Many of his outfits are based on vintage postcards and drawings. You can see some of his collection at rentasanta.com under the photo section, his personal website.
In May of 2018, Santa Doug started Prosantashop.com which specializes in products for the PROFESSIONAL Santa. Products include custom made Santa Suits, shirts, vests, waistcoats, belts, buckles, bells, santa bling etc. You can reach him at [email protected]
In June of 2019 he founded with Santa Stephen B. Price, Charlotte Area Christmas performers, a group of local Santas, Mrs. Clauses and Christmas performers.

Rich Lange has found the fun in many jobs; radio jock, concert promoter, writer, event producer, voice-over artist, event DJ, and professional salty-snack-taster. Rich earned his business-skill stripes as a Marketing and Sales Director at Procter & Gamble, sharing the story of some of the world’s biggest consumer brands.

He made the world a better place as an award-winning Marketing and Event Director in radio broadcasting, creating events and promotions that made life more fun for radio listeners.

Rich is professionally trained as a speaker, Master of ceremonies, and Storyteller – including time at Second City in Chicago. Today, Rich performs both as a Professional Voice Actor, and in his entertainment business year-round as a Professional Master of Ceremonies for Weddings, and seasonally by portraying the jolliest old elf.

Rich shares his experience and skills as a speaker and coach, focusing on the use of story in both selling and performance.

Several magical things fell in place that started Santa Stephen portrayal as Santa. First back in the summer of 2011 a little girl and her dad questioned if I were Santa in disguise (as the little girl thought) I was wearing my leathers; no beard (a long Fu Manchu) and riding my Harley? Then my youngest daughter got married and I cut the Fu Manchu off even with my chin then just for kicks I let it grow back as a beard – my wife then I thought teasing “if she bought a Santa Suit; would I consider being Santa at the hospital she worked at on Christmas Eve. After a few months I agreed so we proceeded to go to our local costume shop (Morris Costume) and check out the suits available. As we searched I noticed one in particular that I liked on one of the displays but couldn’t find it on the shelves. The manager informed us that it was received by mistake that they didn’t carry that style but if I wanted it they would sell it at a special price. I tried it on and it was a little big. My wife said if I liked it she could adjust the fit a little for me.

Then I got my feet wet before Christmas Eve by helping my step-daughter and her church deliver presents to a family (easy peasy) no problem, then on Christmas Eve my wife (Teralee) tells the grandkids (they are dressed as Elves) that she forgot a present or two and needs to stop by Walmart on the way to the hospital and pick something up. (I’m thinking still no problem) but when we get to Walmart and she gets out to go in; she’s like come on it’s no time to be shy! So here I go a new Santa: into Walmart on Christmas Eve! Talk about baptism by fire; I was mobbed. After that, the hospital was fairly easy! At that point, I decided that this was indeed something I enjoyed.

Since then I have attended most Santa Schools, conferences, gatherings, and online classes that I can. I’ve strived to become the best Santa I can be! I’ve performed for numerous organizations: TV commercials, tree lightings, parades, professional sports teams, the military, small events to events at arenas. Along with Teralee, we do over 65 home visits a year – 4 Country Clubs – several HOAs – tree lightings every year. I also average over 100 hrs of photography each year working with well over a dozen photographers. I also along with Doug run our local Santa group The Charlotte Area Christmas Performers – and I’m the Membership Officer for IBRBS where I’ve served on the board for the past several years while being the Regional Representative (Smoky Mountain Region) and District and State Representatives for North and South Carolina. I’m a member of the Clan Claus Society. I hope to share my experiences and knowledge with you as well as learn from you!