Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 45

by Heather Berry | hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
E
ven an unseasonably warm day in the Ozarks
doesn't deter Greg Winters from donning his characteristic
colors. The red overalls, green T-shirt and
white beard let you know there's more to this man
than wearing Yule colors all year.
" These are my casual clothes, " Greg says, then smiles.
" Besides that, I like wearing red. It makes me feel good. "
If you happen to see Greg while he's out and about town,
you might fi nd yourself thinking, " He looks so familiar, do I
know him? " His voice and demeanor seem to have a universally
calming effect on nearly everyone he meets. As Greg
smiles, you notice his eyes do indeed twinkle as he speaks.
And his white beard and manner suggest this may indeed
be the real Kringle.
Greg, who grew up in Michigan where " there was always
snow on Christmas, " knows he was meant to be Santa.
" My hair began turning white at my temples by age 15, "
he recalls. " It was basically completely white by the time I
was 30. I feel like nature said, 'This is what you've got to
do - become Santa Claus.' "
If you ask Greg how old he is now, his eyes close as he
laughs and says, " Older than my hair but younger than my
teeth. " A perfect reply from the 67-year-old who says he's
looked like he was in his 60s for decades.
When Greg was a senior in high school the district
needed someone to portray Santa at the elementary school.
The usual volunteer wasn't available, so Greg took on the
gig as a way to get out of school for a day. " I took the job
and fell in love with it right then. "
It wasn't too many years later he began growing a
beard, only to see it come in nearly all white. Feeling a bit
like Tim Allen's character in the movie " The Santa Clause, "
Greg quit fi ghting the inevitable and just let it grow.
After high school he ended up in Fort Smith, Arkansas
working for the Gerber company as a product analyst and
later, as a manager for the baby food processor. While
there, Greg met his Mrs. Claus, Karen, and the two have
been married 30 years.
One year as they traveled to Branson on vacation, the
duo fell in love with the area and moved to Missouri.
As years passed and with his hair and beard nearly all
white, the White River Valley Electric Cooperative member
says he was happy to take jobs which required him to
dress as the jolly red fellow.
" I'm blessed to be the Santa for Silver Dollar City during
the Christmas season, " says Greg, noting he and Mrs. Claus
also kick off the Festival of Lights parade in Springfi eld.
For the past 19 years Greg also could be seen portraying
Dad Howitt in the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park
in Branson. The outdoor drama is based on the famous
historical novel by Harold Bell Wright which portrays the
Ozarks life in the late 1800s.
" I've even fi gured out a way to tie my beard back for the
shepherd gig so I don't look like Santa, " Greg says.
Greg says it's not unusual for him to hear someone
exclaim " Santa! " when he's out running errands. Often
youngsters will come up and begin talking to Greg as if
they've known him all their lives because, well, you know
- he looks like Santa.
" They'll come up and say, 'Santa, you know I've
been really good this year,' and then go into great detail describing
whatever gifts they'd like to receive, " Greg recalls.
" I've also overheard parents telling their kid to behave.
That's when I usually walk up behind the youngster and
remind them I'm watching to see if they've been naughty or
nice. That usually hushes them up for the time being. "
Always looking the part, Greg notes that his ornate
suits are all handmade by his Mrs. Claus. " She always
keeps me looking good, " says the humble Kringle.
He says portraying Santa reaches people of all ages on
some level. " It doesn't matter if they're a toddler or 100
years old, because for a second when they see me, their
eyes light up and they believe in Santa Claus, " says Greg.
" That makes it all worthwhile. "
Contact Greg Winters at santa@bransonsbestsanta.com,
follow him at Santa Greg Winters on Facebook or www.
bransonsbestsanta.com.
Branson West
Previous page: Greg Winters portrays Santa Claus
for Silver Dollar City during the holiday season.
Top: Santa Greg is accompanied by his Mrs. Claus,
Karen, as they lead the Festival of Lights parade
in Springfi eld. Photo courtesy Greg Winters.
Bottom: The pandemic didn't stop visits to
see Santa Claus at Silver Dollar City last year.
DECEMBER 2021 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 45
http://www.bransonsbestsanta.com http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - December 2021

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