Santa Claus is real in Lake City, Minnesota. If you don’t believe it, go see John Lewis.
The 76-year-old Lake City resident has been dressing up in a Santa suit for 23 straight years, to the delight of locals. He’s volunteered his time at nursing homes, schools, private residences and grocery stores around the area. In his younger days, he even used to provide sleigh rides with horses from his 11-acre farm.
His reward is the response he evokes.
“Just to see some of their eyes; they just bug out,” said Lewis, who is on his third Santa suit.
Sometimes, however, it creates a slippery slope. One of Lewis’ five grandchildren was told a few months ago that Santa isn’t real, shattering the illusion that Lewis had helped create.
Another young child recently told Lewis that he didn’t believe in Santa. When asked why, the boy said his mother told him that fake Santas wear false beards. One yank on Lewis’ bushy white beard made the boy’s jaw drop and forced him to re-evaluate his beliefs.
“He’s the personification of the icon,” said Jason Christensen, co-founder of the new Winter Fest celebration in Lake City.
A new suit of Christensen’s creation might redefine Lewis’ legacy.
Lewis was recently voted Old Man Winter for the second straight year. He’s scheduled to open the Winterfest celebration Saturday morning with a speech, and intends to attend many of the corresponding events.
Instead of wearing his typical red outfit, he’s been provided a blue suit with a matching crown this year.
It figures to be a good change of pace for Lewis, as Santa has become a bittersweet pursuit in recent years. Lewis’ health has deteriorated — he’s having a benign mass between his lungs removed in February and has dealt with blood clot issues — and he’s had to cut back on his appearances. His visits have also brought painful reminders of his mortality.
Eight people he visited at nursing homes this winter have since passed away. Their memories remain fresh. Lewis even received word that one who died spoke fondly of seeing Santa with one of his final breaths.
While the former auto repairman has no intention of backing away from his annual obligation, a neighbor hopes to fill that void when that time comes. He’ll have big shoes — and a red suit — to fill.
“He is just a gem, someone you don’t run across every day,” said neighbor Sue Engen, who envisions her boyfriend inheriting the role of Santa. “They just don’t make people like that anymore.”