Media Contact: Rebecca Meekma 949-497-0517
rmeekma@sawdustartfestival.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 23, 2005

THE REAL SANTA CLAUS IS AT THE WINTER FANTASY

Laguna Beach, CA--- Michael Sullivan always knew there was a Santa Claus, but he never thought it would be him.

At age six, Sullivan became skeptical of the Santa Claus he waited in line to see at a local department store, mostly because of Santa’s demeanor. “For some reason I thought the Santa I was about to see wasn’t taking enough time to talk to each kid. Like it was an ordeal for him to be Santa, not a pleasure. So I just knew he couldn‘t be the “real” Santa with such an attitude,” Sullivan said.

It may have been his desire to show the world how a “real” Santa Claus should act that fueled his interest in taking on the jolly persona. But Sullivan, now 67 and a Whittier resident, claims his wife Vicki also had something to do with it as she commented one day “if you grew a beard you would look just like Santa.” That was 10 years ago.

Shortly after her comment, the couple, both artists, were selling their porcelain work at the Sawdust’s Winter Fantasy when Sullivan was approached by representatives from the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“They just walked up to me and asked me if I would be interested in being Santa Claus for a couple of upcoming holiday events in town,” Sullivan said. “They must have seen what my wife saw in me, because I had not grown the beard yet.”

He was starting to get the hint, and decided to take them up on their offer just to see what it would be like. They provided the costume including the beard and hair for a two-day stint to greet shoppers at a few stores in Laguna Beach. It was then that Michael Sullivan officially became Santa Claus.

As people, especially children, sought him out, waved and shook hands, Sullivan had a gleam in his heart that was a sign to him he had found his true calling: to be Santa Claus.

Opting to buy his own authentic Santa garb, and growing the hair and beard, he was soon transformed into what he calls the “real” Santa Claus. He became so “real” he was accepted as a member of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, which is an international organization of about 600 men dedicated to the joy of being Santa. As the club name implies, the primary criterion is all members must have a “real” natural white beard.

Other guidelines require “real” Santas to be personable, be jolly and not promise anything. The latter stems from the popular request for pets or exotic animals, which Santa has to be careful about guaranteeing delivery of. In cases like this, Sullivan brings in the parents and encourages them to discuss this with the child to assure any desired pet would be welcome in the home.

But most wishes seem to come standard. For boys it is computer games, Play Stations, Power Rangers and the like and for girls anything Barbie seems to perpetually be at the top of the list, according to Sullivan.

However, before Sullivan asks each child what they want for Christmas he spends time asking them how they are, what their name is and always complimenting them on something such as their pretty dress, beautiful smile or how nice their freshly painted face looks, which is a commonly acquired adornment for children during their visit to the Winter Fantasy.

“Some also have questions for me that are not related to presents. They ask me how Mrs. Claus is doing, who is always fine. Or they want to know if reindeers really fly, which of course they do. And the most common inquiry from children who do not have fireplaces is how will I get inside their house if they don’t have a chimney,” Sullivan said.

To reassure the latter, he has a large ring of keys he shows the child while indicating their parents have provided the necessary tool for making sure the presents arrive on Christmas Eve. “That seems to resolve the dilemma.”

Sullivan notes that teenagers, parents and grandparents still like to talk to him as Santa and have their photo taken with him, and he does not discriminate. No matter, his role as Santa is a rewarding one, and not having children of his own, he gets to experience the wide-eyed innocence and fantastical world of a child not just at Christmastime, but all year.

With the “real” white beard and hair that he sports year round, he is approached somewhat as a celebrity whether he is at a restaurant or shopping in the supermarket.

“It is not unusual for a child to come right up to me when I am in regular clothes and say, “Hi Santa!”

“Sometimes they want to just say hello or they want to see how I am doing and if I got their letter, or a number of other things. It doesn’t really matter where I am or what time of year it is I will always be the real Santa to them. “

“By taking the time to listen and talk to kids, I am not only part of maintaining the fantasy for them, but I am helping to keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year.” This will be Sullivan’s sixth year doing so at the Winter Fantasy.

Visitors to the Sawdust Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach can see the “real” Santa Claus each day of the four weekend festival from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., which is held Nov. 19 and 20; Nov. 25, 26 and 27 (includes the Friday after Thanksgiving); Dec. 3 and 4 and Dec. 10 and 11.

The Winter Fantasy, located at the Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach, features 170 artists from around the country offering a variety of fine art and crafts, a “real” snow play area, complimentary art classes, children’s art activities, entertainment and restaurants amidst thousands of holiday lights and décor. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 13 years and older, and $2 for children six through 12 years. Children five and under are free. Season passes are available for $7. For more information visit www.sawdustartfestival.org or call 949-494-3030.

The Sawdust Art Festival is a non-profit organization, dedicated to educating the public about the art created in the community of Laguna Beach.

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