San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
SANTA’S ONLINE IN 2020.
While reindeer rest, tech-savvy Kris Kringles connect virtually to good girls and boys
Since last month, a certain Santa Claus has been making special pre-Christmas Eve visits to boys and girls across the country.
Only these house calls from the North Pole come by way of a computer in a San Marcos living room, where a jolly old elf in a very visible red coat but very hidden blue jeans shines from the light of a desk lamp perched on a small tower of cooking pans and a container of cashews.
“It just requires a lot more patience of Santa,” said Harvey Manning, the 68-year-old semiretired educator behind the beard. “Because it's not like the mall. It's not like the school. It's not like the festival setting when you're taking the picture and then you've got to get off of Santa in a minute and a half because we've got a line of 50.”
Then with a twinkle in his eye, Santa added: “That's what makes this a little sweeter.”
With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, Kris Kringle has had to make the pandemic pivot from his usual shopping mall photo ops to virtual visits to bring at least a little Christmas cheer to kids at the end of such a tough year. One of the companies leading the charge is Hondo-based Virtual Santa Visits.
“Christmas is such a milestone. And I'm a mom. I know what that heartwarming expectation is for a parent, what they're wanting for their child. And my goal is to deliver it,” said Virtual Santa Visits founder Katie Cunningham.
Cunningham started developing Virtual Santa Visits
soon after the pandemic put the kibosh on the usual weddings and other in-person celebrations she manages via Lyfetymes, the digital party-planning service she operates out of Hondo.
Cunningham noted the pandemic actually has been good for Santas, at least business-wise. She said many of the jolly elves who couldn’t or wouldn’t do in-person appearances instead have found work via virtual jobs.
“And these are people that are retired or near retirement and really depend on this December kind of income,” Cunningham said. “This has not only helped employ Santas but also keep them safe.”
Santa video calls vary by price and availability. At santazoomvisit.com, Virtual
Santa Visits start at $129 for at least 20 minutes with Santa, while Santa’s Club visits start at $49.99 for a five-minute live video call. But you better grab them while you can, as some Santa video call options are already sold out.
Virtual Santa Visits starts each Zoom video call with a jolly lady elf to warm up the kiddie crowd. Then the scene shifts to Santa at the North Pole in his favorite chair for a relaxed, real-time chat.
Parents can personalize the experience by sending children’s letters to Santa and any other information in advance. Virtual Santa Visits also offers services in Spanish and sign language (Manning’s youngest son is hearing impaired) and accommodates children with special needs.
“I don’t know who’s having more fun, the parents or the kids,” Cunningham said.
That’s a close call between Chicago residents Elizabeth Sdoucos and her 5-year-old daughter, Sydney, who wore her Christmas finest for a recent video call from Manning.
“For me it’s the smile of the child,” said Sdoucos, an executive with a financial technology firm. “It was the smile of my daughter who was so excited after the conversation and during the conversation where she was able to talk to Santa and tell Santa everything.”
Sdoucos said Sydney was nervous about the one-on-one meeting, especially since she doesn’t like the whole sitting-on-Santa’slap thing. But just moments after Santa’s first ho-ho-ho, Sydney was chatting princess dolls and candy canes. She even blew Santa a kiss before signing off.
“A welcome escape. That’s a great way of putting it because it really is,” Sdoucos said. “You don’t want to lose these traditions during the times that we’re in. Christmas is Christmas, and it’s such an important part of (a child’s) life.”
And it isn’t just parents reserving face time with Santa for their kids. Corporations also are booking Virtual Santa Visits for company events and employee gifts.
Cunningham credits the new venture’s success to Santas such as Manning, who make kids feel like they’re right there in his workshop.
Manning has rocked the red garb and white beard for nearly 20 years, regaling kids of all ages at school and public events in San Marcos, Corpus Christi and Laredo. Cunningham discovered Manning through his membership with Lone Star Santas, the world’s largest statewide Santa organization.
A few of Cunningham’s other St. Nicks herald from the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, the world’s largest membership organization of Santas. Cunningham noted all Santas are background-checked and professionally trained.
“I always say a good Santa is like an Elvis impersonator,” Cunningham said. “They never leave character.”
Cunningham is booking virtual Santa visits through Christmas Eve, but not too late that evening. After all, Santa does have several million deliveries to make before sunrise on Christmas Day.
And while even Santa knows visiting via video just isn’t the same as in person, Manning said the technological tweak still provides an opportunity to share a classic Christmas message.
“My personal goal is to extend this 20-minute virtual experience into something that you can carry forward for the rest of your life,” Manning said. “From my standpoint, there’s hope, there’s love and you’re not alone. And because you’re not alone and Santa loves you, also realize your parents love you. Regardless of the situation, they’re always going to be your biggest cheerleader.”
Jolly St. Nick is pretty wise.