As a child, Blake Smith had always been interested in the guy in the big red suit.
In 1994, his grandmother took him to see “The Santa Clause” in theaters.
“I thought, “Man, that could be me,” he said. “I could be the next Santa.”
Smith said when most kids would show their parents the Sears catalog, it would be for the newest toy me, but for him, it was his own personal Santa suit.
“At the time, my great aunt owned a salon in Calhoun and would always purchase a Santa suit for someone to wear in the Calhoun Christmas parade,” he said. “When I was about 10, she gave me the suit that had been used that year. It wouldn’t be anything to make a visit to the Smith household in Panther and see me dressed up as Santa, year-round.”
Once he became a teenager, he would portray Santa for different family friends and organizations. He played Santa at church, at the Mosleyville Fire Department Christmas Party and a few other places.
One year, a family friend was looking for someone to portray Santa to make home visits to her grandchildren.
He immediately volunteered and they made several stops around Owensboro. Afterward, she told him he needed to portray Santa as a profession.
“The next day, I was at Tuff Decisions buying a professional suit and beard,” Smith said. “I portrayed Santa solo for years, but now my wife Lindsey joins me at a few events as Mrs. Santa. The rest is history.”
Smith said Santa is a symbol of Christmas and the spirit of the season.
“When Santa jingles his sleigh bells at walks into a house or a Christmas party, it puts a smile on everyone’s face, even the grinchiest person,” he said. “Just last week, I was asked to make a visit to Bowling Green for a retired police officer’s 50th birthday. I was told he may not react well to it and isn’t a big fan of Christmas. When I walked into the restaurant and to his table, you would have thought he was 8-years-old again. That’s why I portray Santa. I’m 30-years-old and I still believe in Santa. Don’t you?”
For 11 months a year, people are rushed and involved in their own problems, illnesses, deaths and more.
Smith said he feels like the Friday after Thanksgiving through Christmas Day is a magical time.
“The difficulties and environments kids face each day have changed so much since I was a kid,” Smith said. “Whether it be at school or home, kids have a lot of worries. Santa gives them something to believe in, something magical.”
To book Santa Smith visit facebook.com/santasmithKY.
