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Hire a Santa

 

The Perfect Santa for Any Event

Looking for a great Chicago area Santa? John Sullivan—Santa Claus is located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. He is a semi-retired non-smoker, who is the father of three adult children and eight grandchildren. Santa is a happy, outgoing person who is at ease in everything from small intimate gatherings to large crowds where a big entrance is required. He loves children and knows how to make any visit a truly memorable occasion. Santa has had plenty of experience in malls, at private and company parties, home visits, village promotions and much more.

Photo of John Sullivan courtesy KimberleeB Photography

 

What Does it Cost to hire Santa John?

 

2019 Santa Rates

Note - the following rates are approximate. Depending upon the driving time and mileage involved—as noted below—there are additional charges.

Weekends in November & December
Note weekends are always premium dates.
Weekend Rates - Friday through Sunday are:
First Hour - $300, Each Additional Hour - $100

Weekday Rates before Thanksgiving in November
Monday through Thursday rates in November are:
First Hour - $200 Each Additional Hour - $100

Weekday Rates After Thanksgiving in November & December
through Tuesday, December 17th, 2019
Monday through Thursday rates are:
First Hour - $250 Each Additional Hour - $100

Christmas Week Rates Wednesday, December 18th,
through Monday, December 23rd, 2019
First Hour - $300, Each Additional Hour - $100

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Rates
$400 for one Hour

The above rates are based on bookings of up to 20 miles one-way from my home in Streamwood. If your event is 50 miles or more round-trip from Streamwood, there is a additional $50 charge minimum.

For events in Chicago at high traffic times, taking an extra hour or more, there is an additional $100 charge. Any parking fees will be paid by the client.

To reach us:

John Sullivan
272 Kosan Circle
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 837-9241

email jsul272@wowway.com

 

An important message for people who need a Santa when John isn't available

Every year John books up earlier and earlier. If you email or call him and he's not available then go to Find a Santa for Your Event for some of the very best Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves in the Chicago area.

 

What People Say About John

These are actual comments we have received from some of our Santa clients:

Amanda Epstein of the University of Chicago
Booth School of Business:
“John was great! He was very professional, extremely personable and everyone LOVED him! We look forward to having John back next year. :-)”

“We absolutely loved having you as our Santa & can not wait until next year! The feedback from everyone has been so positive and can not stop talking about you! Thank you so much! You truly helped us make lasting holiday memories for our customers!   Thanks again,”     Jennifer Hyde

“Thank you again for doing such an awesome performance!
 You are on the short list for our Santa’s—you and you alone:)”    Jeff

“Thank you so much for making our day care celebration complete. All the children at Just Wee Kids will remember this wonderful surprise visit from Santa himself. Thank you. Merry Christmas Ho-Ho-Ho”      Karen

“You were wonderful with our family and very much appreciate the way you connected with kids, parents and grandparents alike. It was very special.         Thanks again.”    Frank

“Thank you for making our party special. The kids so look forward to seeing you year after year.”    Lisa Lanier

“What an amazing visit last Saturday! We were all still talking about it on Sunday and know we will again when we get together with our relatives - you were a big hit! Thank you again and Merry Christmas!”    Micki Pasquesi

“I know it's a week later but I just wanted to let you know that all the kids were awestruck to see Santa at our house.  The excitement continues even through today.Thank you very much for creating this beautiful memory.”    Doug Kieffer 

“Thank you so much for being our Santa on Saturday and bringing such joy to the little ones. I am glad you were able to be a part of our evening. I hope you and Mrs. Claus had a wonderful Christmas!!!!”    Joanne Muller

Best Santa Around! - will have him back again and again!                                       Michael Daniel - Vignette Home Decor, Inc.

And finally . . .

Client Quote from Jenni Kenney Photography and Design

I wanted to send this to you so that you know how much it means to my clients that you come every year …

"Thanks again for giving my babies this special time with Santa, it's every child's dream, and you make that come true for mine.  It's priceless and I can't tell you how much it means to me!! 
So THANK YOU!!!!"  


It seems like everyone wants Santa on the same weekend or Christmas Eve. Santa is still available on many days—but don't wait, call now.

                              

            photo © Jenni Kenney Photography & Design

Wow a Visit from Santa!

Santa is available year around for any of the following:

Commercials
Photo shoots
Malls
Parades
Store Promotions
Corporate Parties & Events
Community Events
Restaurants & Hotels
Home Visits
Private Photo Sessions
Stories with Santa
Family Parties
School Events
Church Events
Daycare Centers
Hospital Visits
Media Articles
Senior Center Events
Radio and TV Interviews
Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners with Santa
City, Town and Village Tree Lightings & Festivals
Christmas in July parties and promotions

            John Sullivan - Santa in Chicago

 

The Five Things that John Believes
Go into Making a Great Santa

1 - Santa should be a warm and caring person. This is something that is inborn. A warm caring person doesn’t play Santa to gratify his own ego. He really loves people and knows how to communicate this, especially to small children.

2 - He should be outgoing and enthusiastic. How often have you been to a mall and the Santa sits there like a rock or when he does see kids, he handles them like he is working on an assembly line in a factory? Santa should be full of joy and no matter how long his day, this joyful outgoing happiness should still come through.

3 - Common sense—you don’t need to be a genius to be Santa but good, basic common sense goes a long way. You have to be able to deal with unruly children, those with special needs, crying babies, nervous and fidgety kids, parents who are irritated and may have had a bad day or impatient photographers who don’t know how to get the picture.

4 - Santa should be great with children. This means you listen to what they have to say, make sure you understand their wants while at the same time never promising them specific, since you really don’t know what they are going to get. At the same time you let them know they will like what they find under the tree. You know better than to grab a child and put them on your lap, because when you do sit down you have to be sure he or she is ready. Otherwise, you will have someone screaming for mom or dad! Santa knows how to interact with children and how to communicate with them on their level. When the little one has had time to say everything on his or her mind, he then gently eases them off his lap, leaving them with happy thoughts of the coming Christmas.

5 - Be believable—small children, especially up to the age of six absolutely believe in Santa. Because of this, it’s important you not only look the part, but that you are a totally credible Santa. You must live and believe the role because you are Santa. When you start to believe it yourself, this is when you really become Santa Claus!

 

See a slide show of some of John's Events, click on the image below.

  • 01 SantawRudolph
  • 02 Santawbaby
  • 03-santawboy
  • 04 Santawboyandgirl
  • 05 Santawraindeer
  • 06 Santawlittlegirl
  • 07 Santawfam
 


The following are some of my Santa appearances in recent years

Charlestowne Mall St. Charles - Santa for a number of seasons
National City Bank of Batavia - Branch Opening
Hansen Technologies - Holiday Party Burr Ridge
BTD Holiday Dinner - Elysian Hotel - Chicago
North Suburban Dental Association - Holiday Party Glenview
Appeared on NBC News - Chicago
Holiday & 5th Birthday Party - South Barrington
McHenry Villa Retirement Community - Holiday Party
Family Christmas Eve Visit - Winnetka
Family Christmas Night Visit with Santa - Hawthorne Woods
Schaumburg Cable TV Show
Breakfast with Santa Neiman Marcus - Oak Brook
Junior League Holiday Party - Chicago Cultural Center
Neighborhood & Family Open House - Lake Zurich
The Royal Country Club of Long Grove - Long Grove
Stratford Crossing Shopping Center Holiday Celebration - Bloomingdale
Harris Bank Holiday Party - Chicago
Chicago Botanical Gardens Guild Holiday Party - Glencoe
Friendship Village of Schaumburg Story Time with Santa
Kenmore Live Studio - TV show taping of "Santa's Sweet Sleigh Ride"
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Public Relations Event for City of Countryside
Citizens Financial Bank Merriville Branch Grand Opening
Sunrise Senior Living Holiday Parties - Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg,
Arlington Heights & Crystal Lake
Private Home Holiday Party - Inverness
Lake Forest Place Holiday Party - Lake Forest

Minooka - Jenni Kenney Photography & Design

 

 


And Finally . . .

Before You Bring John Sullivan or Any Santa into Your Home or Business

Have them:

Provide you with references you can check - we’ll be glad to provide written references with contacts.

Take the time to check Santa’s references

Find out where we have played Santa - a partial list of places is shown above

Have Santa provide you with a records check from the local police department - we’ll provide a copy upon request

Provide you with a copy of Santa’s liability insurance - Sullivan carries a $1,000,000 liability policy through the World Clown Association - we’ll send a copy upon request

Santa Leaving
Santa leaving to go to the North Pole

 

Links to other valuable sites:

http://www.santa-hohoho.com

 

Professional Santa Claus - Santa Claus Allen www.santaallen.com is a traditional Santa Claus in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas area.  He has a bigger than life appearance that conveys the Christmas spirit in person, print, and film.  Santa Allen has appeared on magazine covers, major city Christmas ceremonies, and promotional work for Fortune 500 companies.

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