You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not shout.
OK. You can shout, but only to say, “Merry Christmas, Santa!”
Santa Claus is coming to a neighborhood near you.
In fact, Don Elliot has been coming to town as Santa Claus for 12 years, and for about 30 years, if you count his stint as the jolly old elf in Honolulu.
Volunteer firefighter Elliot said he’s worn out about four Santa suits in the years since he donned his first white beard. (He’s gone through four of those, too.)
“My wife Elaine sews them for me,” Elliot said.
“There’s all the wear and tear, and sometimes it’s just that I get bigger and she has to make another one,” he added with a hearty belly laugh sounding typecast for the part.
Every December, a Fire District 3 vehicle pulls a trailer with Santa and his sleigh around neighborhoods on the South End while a team of firefighters follows along in a department truck. Children along the route reap the holiday showers of candy and coloring books.
Jolly old Elliot said he’s been doing it so long he can’t imagine not being Santa.
“Some of these kids that sit on my lap are the children of kids who used to sit on my lap,” Elliot said.
“The very young ones are speechless. Other kids tug on you and pull the beard, but I don’t use my expensive one for this; too much wind.”
The skilled St. Nick authenticator has a “real beard” he uses for the Christmas party circuit.
Using a trailer on which Santa can sit in his sleigh allows him to get closer to the children, and for those who miss him in their neighborhood, Santa visits all the shopping centers, as well.
Elliot retired from the Honolulu Fire Department 12 years ago and then moved to Whidbey Island. He is a drillmaster at the firefighter’s academy and said he loves the energy of the young people he has had the pleasure to teach. He is also an assistant football coach at the high school.
“I love hanging around kids,” Elliot said. “We have a 52-percent retention rate of high schoolers who assist us in our district. They come back in the summer after their college semesters to help the force out. They’re the ones with all the energy, and it’s awesome to have them around.”
Elliot said his role as Santa Claus isn’t one he plans on giving up anytime soon.
“As long as my legs hold up and my wife will continue to make me the outfits,” he said.
“We love to do it.”
Santa Claus’ visiting schedule
Santa Claus and his sleigh will be in a neighborhood near you starting at 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14, Santa rides by the Maple Ridge Retirement Center, Holmes View, Harbor View, Harbor Sands, Beachwood, Twin Oaks and Watkins.
Tuesday, Dec. 15, look for St. Nick riding down Bob Galbreath, Hansen, Durham, Gravel, Elsica, Hinman, Spinnaker Ridge, through the Dairy Queen parking lot, Lake Shore, Paradise and the Food Mart parking lot.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, the fire trucks will lead Santa down Campbell, Wintergreen, Timberline, Deer Lake, Cultus Bay, Bailey, Scatchet Head, Swede Hill, Mortland, Maple Point, Britzman, Blakely, Harper, Decator, Guemes, San Juan, Hat, Blakely and through the parking lot at the Red Apple at Ken’s Corner in Clinton.
Thursday, Dec. 17, see Santa riding down Maxwelton, Langley, Sandy Point, Decker, Edgecliff, Furman, Sandy Point, Wilkenson, Ridenour, Hodges, Herring, Camano, Cascade, Fourth Street, Anthes, Third Street, Bayview, Delphi, April, Mercer, Island, Hi Crest, Sun Vista Circle, Bayview, Sun Light and at the Goose Grocer parking lot.
Friday, Dec. 18, Santa will make his way along Honeymoon Bay, Chipshot, Spinnaker, Sealawn, Haynes, Harbor Hills, Honeymoon Bay, Bercot, Woodard, Manor, Mountain View, Shoreview, Stewart, Lynne, Dorsey, Stewart, Main and back to the PayLess parking lot in Freeland.
