The “Santa Home Visit”: What It Is and What To Expect.
A Santa home visit is a private, in-person appearance by a professional Santa Claus performer who comes directly to a family's residence during the holiday season to create a magical, personalized experience for children and adults alike.
While Santa doesn’t want to rush anything during the time together, it is important to understand that having him “hang out” after the gift giving has been completed can negatively impact the holiday magic that was just created. The last thing you want is the doubting 6th grader saying “he’s not real”.
In contrast to a corporate or special event live appearance that is contracted on an hourly basis, the Santa Home Visit duration is determined by various factors. The most common include:
> Guest and Child Count: More children mean more time needed for individual greetings and hearing wish lists.
> Planned Activities: Reading a book like “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, participating in a sing-along, or handing out gifts adds time to the visit.
> Keeping the Magic Alive: Professional entertainers often advise leaving on a high note while the impression is still fresh and magical, rather than staying so long that children begin asking too many difficult logistical questions.
While each visit is unique, these factors generate the following, typical durations:
1) 15 to 20 Minutes: Often used for quick "drop-in" appearances or younger toddlers where shorter attention spans mean children might otherwise grow suspicious or lose interest.
2) 30 Minutes: Best for a single family or a small group of children, covering a quick grand entrance, a few photos, chatting about wish lists, and handing out a couple of presents.
3) 45 to 60 Minutes: Ideal for larger family gatherings or multiple children. This allows adequate time for storytelling, singing songs, individual lap visits, posing for family portraits, and passing out pre-staged gifts.
An “Outline” of a typical home visit can look like this:
1. Prior to Santa’s reveal, the event planner or ‘other person in the know’, may meet Santa outside of the venue to complete an exchange of gifts to be placed in Santa’s toy bag.
2. At the designated time, Santa makes a grand entrance, has a meet and greet with the party goers, then it’s time for some fun photos.
3. The children can tell Santa what they want, there’s time for question and answer with Santa, some singing and storytelling.
4. Finally, if there are gifts, these are distributed towards the end of the visit.
5. While the children play with their new treasures, Santa can make a stealthy exit (This helps keep the children from running out to “see the reindeer.”) Conversely, there can be a big good-bye and reminder for all to continue to be good as Christmas is coming soon.
Let’s be sure to discuss mutual expectations prior to your event!
How To Make the Best Visit
Having Santa come to your home is a wondrous thing for young and old alike. Here are some quick tips to make this the very best party or visit possible.
1) Make certain Santa has an assigned contact who will have their phone on (and charged), just in case. This contact person should check their phone regularly.
2) If there are any pets who might be over-excited by a big guy in a fur-trimmed suit, it might be best for them to relax elsewhere, in a closed room.
3) You will want to have all of your cameras and devices ready and charged.
4) Where should Santa sit for photos? Well, Santa’s suit is pretty warm, so not too close to fireplaces. It is also helpful to seat Santa away from large reflective surfaces (like mirrors and glass doors). We don’t want flash bounce to ruin your pictures.
5) Santa will probably need a helper to help with gift distribution and crowd management. At a minimum, to direct him around the living room. Due to the overwhelming distractions, Santa may not see the ottoman.
6) Any business tasks are best done “off stage” or before the event. Anything that is left to be completed at the event can best be handled by providing a Christmas Card for Santa and hand it to him as he is leaving.
7) In many people’s minds, Santa usually comes down the chimney. But if he’s arriving by car, you need to have a specially reserved parking spot for him. An easy way to do this is to have one of the cars in the driveway pulled all the way back (closest to the street). When Santa arrives, the Helper pulls this car forward and Santa pulls in behind him.
8) If you live in a gated community, make certain Santa has all the security information.
9) Speaking of cars and reindeer, it’s not unusual for children to want to follow Santa out. Be ready to have a distraction to pull the kids away, after you hear him call out, “Happy Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!”
10) Seating is important. A sturdy, straight back, dining room chair will often do fine. You can decorate around it and even put it next to your Christmas Tree. But people will need to have easy access around it. And we don’t want any gifts to be trampled.
11) If there are any people with Special Needs, make certain Santa knows. If someone is in a wheelchair or bedridden, Santa can easily go to them. Or he may need help if the person uses ASL, etc.
12) When children are present, it is best to have an adult serving as the “child wrangler” remaining with Santa at all times.
13) If Santa is handing out gifts for you, put them in a heavy-duty plastic trash bag. Santa will transfer them into his own bag. Write the names in bold ink, on the wrapping paper itself. Tags fall off all the time. Santa will ask the helpers to help him hand out the presents and to help pronounce the names if needed. If there are a lot of gifts, Santa may recruit some elves to bring them in. Please let Santa know if there are any special issues before he offers to hand out candy canes.
Please read more of my Santa event tips right here on my website.
Be good. I’m watching!
Santa Jeffy
