Real bearded · Second-generation Santa

Santa Claus for hire in Tupelo & Northeast Mississippi

Santa Sarge is a real bearded, second-generation Santa with over 14 years of experience, performer's insurance and a national background check. When he is not at the North Pole, he lives in Tupelo.

Check a dateor call / text (662) 401-4949

Santa Sarge, a real bearded Santa Claus, with his toy bag and teddy bear in his workshop

Santa Sarge · Tupelo, Mississippi

Book Santa for

Home parties, company events, parades & more

Available for home parties, business get-togethers and corporate events. Photo sittings, tree lightings and parades can be arranged too. Every quote is personal, so tell Santa what you have in mind.

“Whether it’s a small family gathering or a neighborhood party, it’s just magical when Santa shows up.”
Home visits & parties
Plan a home visit

Close portrait of Santa Sarge in soft light — Maury Schuh, retired US Army senior NCO

Why they call him Sarge

The service record

Name · Santa SargeService · 27+ yearsStation · Tupelo, MS

Born into the suit

His parents portrayed Santa and Mrs. Claus for over 20 years in the Tupelo Public Schools and area businesses. He first donned the red suit more than 20 years ago, for pet photography fundraisers in Tupelo.

Operation Santa Sarge

As a senior noncommissioned officer in Kosovo with the US Army, he saw children in orphanages and schools who needed clothing, school supplies and toys. He coordinated with churches and civic groups back home and handed the gifts out dressed as Father Christmas. The mission became known as Operation Santa Sarge, and the subject of a 2008 viral video.

Iraq

He carried the work on while serving in Iraq, expanding the mission to provide gifts for children and for deployed soldiers.

Real bearded Santa

Retired after more than 27 years of service, and a former law enforcement officer who taught the DARE and GREAT programs in local schools, he became a real bearded Santa. He has sent Christmas video messages to children in hospitals and with special needs across the US, Canada, Australia and Great Britain.

Two children with Santa Sarge on a bench

See the photo gallery

2025 season rates

Home visits from $100

In-home visit$100first half-hour · $50 each additional half-hour
Christmas Eve home visit$200first half-hour · $100 each additional half-hour
Christmas Eve 'Sneak-a-Peek'$125after 9:00 PM · catch Santa delivering presents, about 15 minutes

All rates & Christmas Eve surprises

Before Santa arrives

Tips for an extraordinary visit

Keep Santa cool
Please don't place Santa's chair in front of a lit fireplace or other hot areas. Consider having a fan on where Santa will sit.
Save him a parking spot
Nearby, but out of view of the guests.
A sturdy chair without arms
He has been eating a lot of cookies lately. A straight-backed dining chair works fine. Leave a little room behind it for family photos.
Cameras charged, window behind you
Avoid backlit backgrounds such as a daytime window or a plain white wall; they give poor pictures. A Christmas tree makes a lovely background.

All the tips

Letters to Santa

“We had our Holiday Open House scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov 5–6, and still needed Santa to pop in. It came down to the week of without having a Santa, so I called Santa Sarge to see if he was available and luckily for us, he accepted. He was an absolute Godsend for our event. All of our business owners loved him. He was a great hit for all ages, but especially for the kids. Some of the adults were even mesmerized by his mannerisms. If you are in need of a Santa, I highly recommend Santa Sarge! He was very professional and very nice to work with. We were beyond pleased. A week after the event, our office is still receiving calls about how great he was.”

Best Santa ever
My little boy looks forward to his personalized message from Santa every year! It makes his Christmas that much more enjoyable to see the amazing joy and happiness when he sees Santa. We love Santa Sarge! His kindness and the love he has for all the little ones, especially those in the hospitals, does not go unnoticed.
Jennifer