What started as a dream, has finally become a reality. Santa has always been a highlight of the Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting event. He was located in a tent, at the Franklin Park amphitheater with a long line of kids waiting to visit with him. Some years it worked well. Other years it didn’t.
More than once, his tent blew away.
The past several years, I convinced my husband to haul 30 straw bales to the park and build a wall to protect Santa and Mrs. Claus during the event. It was just an OK solution (although I don't think my husband thought so!) We really needed a different option.
And, we needed additional times when Santa could be available for children to visit.
Working together with the City of Shawano Parks and Recreation Department and the Shawano High School Building Trades program, the vision of creating a Santa House right here in Shawano came to life. The local high school students, under the guidance of their teacher and local electrician, Radtke Reuter, designed and constructed the Santa House as part of their coursework. After the construction was complete, the Parks and Recreation Department delivered the house to its new location.
The project received an extra boost when an anonymous local donor stepped forward, providing the funding necessary to bring Santa’s House to life. The generous contribution allowed the team to cover materials and construction costs, making the dream a reality without straining the community’s budget.
The story doesn’t end there, this story of community is actually just getting started. Staff members from Shawano Park & Rec, along with The Stock Market sisters provided time, energy and MANY Christmas decorations to Christmas-fy the house.
Tara Kelliher used her amazing talents to paint windows featured inside Santa’s house.
Fancy chairs, donated a few years ago by Heather Pahl at Martin Jewellers, were moved in. Shawano Lawn & Stone created the wreath that adorns the outside of the house. Tom Stefl and crew from the parks department built a ramp so the Santa House is accessible for everyone.
A new event was created – Saturdays with Santa, programmed by Maddi Stuewer from the Shawano Park & Rec department in partnership with Shawano FFA, Strive Behavioral Solutions and the Shawano County Library. Each one of these organizations will host one of the Saturdays with Santa events.
The Santa House is located in The Naberhood, near Franklin Park by the recently installed pergolas.
Santa will be available for visitors at his Shawano house during these dates and times:
🎅🏻𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎 | 3 to 5 p.m. during the Shawano Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting. Hosted by Shawano Orthodontics, each child who visits with Santa will receive a stocking from Shawano Orthodontics.
🎅🏻Friday, December 6 following the Shawano Santa Parade until 8 p.m. hosted by Shawano Downtown. Saturdays with Santa programmed by Shawano Parks & Recreation Department Visit Santa in the Santa House each Saturday during the month of December.
🎅🏻𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕 | 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by Shawano FFA
🎅🏻𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒 | 10 a.m. to Noon (This is a sensory-friendly event in partnership with STRIVE Behavioral Solutions.)
🎅🏻𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒 | 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by Shawano County Library
🎅🏻𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏 | 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by Shawano Park & Rec
The story of the Santa House will continue as children visit with him this holiday season. We are thankful for the many community partners who have made this possible, and can’t wait to read the additional stories the Santa House will write! Merry Christmas! Lindsay Johnson, Shawano Downtown Coordinator
