Hello

My Story

My real name is Scott Wilson, I have been a Professional Santa Portrayal Artist since 2020. I have dressed as the man in red for years before that for family children etc but never dreamed I would get to this stage.

I have always been in and around the entertainment industry from an early age. From entering and winning multiple local singing competitions, to portraying Danny Zuko in a school production of Grease. I went on to do some minor bits of acting as an extra in movies and tv shows, most notably Game of Thrones, in Northern Ireland though everyone with a beard has done that.

In my 20s I spent a few years on a community radio station called Blast 106. Here I had great opportunities interviewing the likes of 5 Seconds of Summer, Rylan Clark and even meeting One Direction. I also dabbled in a rock band and professional wrestling. I eventually started singing and DJing for private events. This then lead to local bars as a Johnny Cash tribute. After a few years at this I packed it in after some health scares and worries.

I eventually started working in regular office and call centre type jobs as I have met my now wife Laura and step son Danny. With bills to pay and a life to build I had to bring in some sort of reliability and stability.

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After over a decade struggling with constant pains in my muscles, constantly falling asleep and generally feeling drained, exhausted and just defeated, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFD, Sleep Apnoea and after what was believed to be a heart attack, turned out to be Costochondritis. My health was a real struggle and this affected everything from work life to my personal life. When the Covid Pandemic hit I was deemed vulnerable and was to remain out of work. This was not ideal as I did not know what to do with myself.

When things started to calm down I returned to work only to find my department was no longer there. After a couple of months I resigned and worked part time for my cousin. This was at about the same time everyone discovered there would be no Santa Grottos or Santa visits happening for kids that year.

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I had always dressed up for the kids in our family and friends so my wife and I had offered me to call at a few other friends. One of these people posted a video of their visit and that was the start of a journey we never expected.

That first year I had no idea what I was doing. I had a cheap suit and was using face paint on my beard. I honestly have no idea why people enjoyed it so much. My wife sat from 7am until 9pm some nights answering messages about getting me out to visit places.

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After an unexpected first year I made the decision to give it a go the following year and try raise some money for the local Children's hospice. Slightly more organised but still learning. Slightly more expensive Santa suit but nothing like todays. By 2022 I had decided to trial doing Easter Bunny which proved to also be a success. With people asking me if I do anything for Birthdays I created the now retired character Mr Bongo, a Mr Tumble-like Clown.

Now into 2024 this accidental success has become an incredibly in demand service that I can not meet. I have won 2 awards for my Santa Portrayal and Charitable work. I feature on the Movie House billboards, I am the official Santa Claus for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, the official Santa for Ikea in Northern Ireland, the first Northern Ireland Santa Claus to be a member of the Worldwide Santa Claus Network to also present at the annual Claus Cram event. This year I will also be operating in Hillside Garden Centre on Sundays as their Santa.

I have been running my own charitable fundraising each year now also called the Season of Goodwill. I raise money to do a shop for the Newtownabbey Community Toy Drive, the Newtownabbey food Bank and a donation to the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. I also chose an animal based charity to involve and I dedicate time and money towards families in vulnerable situations each year in the hopes of creating some special memories for them.

I am in my 40s now and I have had to learn, grow and adapt very fast in the past few years all while handling family life and trying to manage my own health issues. My story has only begun, I hope you can come along on this journey with me.

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HO HO HO

Örrivin Yuligin! (Merry Christmas in Elvish)