Must-see merriment: Ready for the holidays?
By the end of this feature you will be! First, we’ll give you the skinny on being Santa, then we will warm your winter with a look at the lights of Luminaria. When you are ready to sparkle your spruce, we’ve got tree trimming tips galore. To finish things off, you’ll meet a local Christmas […]
Santa Claus is coming to town: Meet Utah Valley’s Santas
Four local Santas taught us there is much more to playing Old St. Nick than just putting on a red coat. Answering tricky questions, delivering a solid belly laugh, maintaining an epic beard and winning over skeptical little BELIEVERS is all part of the gig.
Meet Santa Lerl
HOMETOWN: Saratoga Springs AGE: 70 Around town, kids stop Lerl frequently to give him their Christmas list and parents pull up their photo with him from the previous year. Lerl relishes in his role and even has a personalized “SANTA” license plate. PRE HO-HO-HO: Land surveyor in Las Vegas. BECOMING SANTA: My daughter-in-law was the […]
Meet Santa Joe
HOMETOWN: Pleasant Grove AGE: Old enough to know better, too young to care. Before moving to Utah, Joseph Leavitt pursued an acting career in Los Angeles. He was frequently told he would make a great Santa. “I was always resistant because I saw myself above such nonsense,” Joseph says. “Then one day I looked in […]
Meet Santa Kay
HOMETOWN: Provo AGE: 74 Kay and his wife Karen Haws love playing Santa and Mrs. Claus because they love the spirit little children bring. One of the signature parts of their visit is leading all the children in “Silent Night” before they leave. FORMER CAREER: Electrician and father STAPLE SANTA GIGS: I’ve been dressing up as […]
Meet Santa Dodd
HOMETOWN: Payson AGE: 69 When it comes to being Santa Claus, Dodd Greer does more than just sit and look merry. When he ho-ho-ho’s at private parties, he brings hand bells and helps the kids play Christmas songs. And while some Santas stick to the traditional garb, Dodd often wears a Santa’s workshop get-up — […]
Utah-Tube: Kids tell who is on Santa’s naughty and nice list
You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, we’re telling you why. These Utah Valley Christmas Kids know what it takes to get on the naughty list (which none of them have ever been on, of course). For the holiday issue of Utah Valley Magazine, we invited 10 kids to our […]
Christmas countdown: United Way’s Sub for Santa program still needs help
Donors have helped more than 1,300 families, with 3,911 kids. But as of Tuesday, 78 families who’d applied for help from United Way’s Sub for Santa program still needed sponsors. Every year for more than 35 years, United Way of Utah County has helped about 1,500 families by connecting them with sponsors who provide Christmas […]
Utah-Tube: Christmas Kids almost know Santa’s reindeers’ names
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, But do you recall, The not-so-famous reindeers named in this video? After telling Utah Valley Magazine all about Santa Claus, these Christmas experts told us all about Santa’s helpers. And it looks like they are special friends with more […]
#Give: Get Sub for Santa on your Christmas list
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals seem to come earlier every year, but it’s not too late to get Sub for Santa on your gift list this year. And if you need help, there’s still time to sign up for the program. Here’s how it works: Needy families sign up for the United Way of […]
Breakfast Land: Kids can eat breakfast with Santa at Thanksgiving Point
[pullquote] If you go… When: Dec. 5, 12 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Where: Thanksgiving Point’s Show Barn Cost: $22 for adults and $18 for children Site: thanksgivingpoint.org [/pullquote] Santa Claus is coming to Thanksgiving Point — but he isn’t looking for cookies or declaring naughty vs. nice. The big man is […]
Here comes Santa Claus and more holiday celebrations at University Mall
Sponsored Story Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s making his first appearance at University Mall on Black Friday — and he’ll be flying in style. Instead of Rudolph and friends leading Santa’s sleigh, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will land in University Mall’s parking lot via the KSL Channel 5 helicopter. After greeting […]
SPONSORED: We want s’more holiday season at Shops at Riverwoods
Here comes Santa Claus, holiday lights and a crazy shopping season to the Shops at Riverwoods. On Friday, Nov. 21, the Shops at Riverwoods is officially starting the holiday season with their annual Lighting of Riverwoods event. “It’s a kick off to the holiday season,” said Lawrence Packer, mall operations manager. “We do it the week before Black […]
Santa says: An interview with Father Christmas
Ever wonder what Santa eats for breakfast? Or what to do if you land on the naughty list? We asked Santa these questions, and a few more, as he was preparing to visit Thanksgiving Point for its annual Breakfast with Santa. The event will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 7, 14 and 21 and will […]
Santa’s little helpers
By Kylee Norton and Jeanette Bennett Bringing Christmas cheer to 196 countries throughout the world is a tall job. How does old St. Nick do it? With a little help from his friends, of course. We tracked down 10 holiday helpers who don’t have tiny elf feet, but they do have big hearts. Their creativity, passion, hard work […]