You’ve Hired a Santa… Now What? How to Make the Most of Your Professional Father Christmas

So, you’ve taken the leap and hired a professional Father Christmas from Hire a Santa. Great choice! You’ve steered away from the classic “Uncle Dave in a £10 suit and a cotton wool beard” situation and opted for a trained, experienced Santa who looks, sounds, and feels like the real thing. But now that he’s booked — what next?

Hiring a professional Santa is just the beginning. To truly bring the magic of Christmas to life, it’s important to think about how to use that time to keep the children engaged, entertained, and full of festive joy. This blog is packed with ideas and inspiration to help you get the most out of your booking — whether it’s for a school, a grotto, a private party, or a corporate event.

Why Hiring a Professional Santa Was the Right Move

Let’s start with this — you’ve already made one of the smartest decisions by choosing a professional Santa over a volunteer or family member in disguise. Here’s why it matters:

Authenticity: A professional Santa doesn’t just wear the suit — he lives the role. From the hearty laugh to the twinkle in the eye, trained performers know how to make the magic believable.

Consistency: Volunteers can vary wildly in quality, especially if they’re unfamiliar with children. A professional knows how to manage expectations, remain in character, and handle all kinds of interactions.

DBS-Checked: All our Santas at Hire a Santa are DBS-checked and vetted to work with children. You can trust them to provide a safe and reliable service.

Experience with Different Settings: Professionals adapt to various environments — from large-scale grottos to one-on-one home visits or SEN school groups.

So now that you’ve booked your Santa, how can you make the most of his visit?

Ideas for Making Santa’s Time Truly Magical
Whether your Santa visit is 20 minutes or several hours, here are some great ways to make the time meaningful and enjoyable for the children involved.

1. The Grand Arrival
Set the scene. Santa’s entrance can be a moment of real magic if you plan it well. Here are a few ideas:

Use a bell or jingle sound before he appears

Dim the lights and have Santa enter to Christmas music

Have an elf or helper introduce him to build anticipation

Use a decorated door, curtain, or sleigh prop for added effect

This builds excitement and sets the tone for the visit.

2. The Santa Chat
Once Santa is settled, he can engage with children in a number of ways:

Ask about their Christmas wishes

Discuss the reindeer and North Pole life

Chat about good behaviour, kind deeds, or helping at home

Tell a short Christmas story or read a festive book

Professional Santas are excellent at gentle questioning and guiding conversations in a magical and age-appropriate way.

3. Gift-Giving Moments
If your event includes giving gifts, now is the time. Santa can:

Call children up one by one by name (if a list is provided in advance)

Hand out a small present, certificate, or festive treat

Offer a handshake, high five, or even a little sleigh bell souvenir

Pro tip: Keep presents unwrapped or labelled clearly, so Santa doesn’t fumble and slow the process.

4. Photo Opportunities
A visit from Santa is the perfect moment for photographs — and a professional Santa knows how to pose naturally with children, families, or groups.

Set up a photo area or grotto backdrop

Allow each child or family a moment for a picture

Ask Santa to stay for a group photo at the end

These photos become cherished keepsakes and are great for promotional use if you’re running a business or school event.

How to Fill the Time Around Santa’s Visit
If you’ve hired Santa for a longer session — such as an hour or more — and want to keep children entertained while they wait their turn, here are some festive activity ideas to run alongside the visit:

1. Craft Stations
Decorate Christmas cards

Make tree ornaments

Create reindeer food in small paper bags

Colour in Santa-themed activity sheets

2. Letter-Writing to Santa
Set up a table where children can write or draw their Christmas wishes. Some Santas may even respond later with a letter if arranged in advance.

3. Storytime or Songs
If you have a helper, teacher, or elf, they can lead Christmas songs or tell a festive story while children wait.

4. Sweet Treats & Hot Chocolate
A small refreshments station can add to the fun — think gingerbread biscuits, marshmallows, and a warm drink. Just check allergies in advance.

5. Elf Games
If you’ve hired elves as well (which we highly recommend), they can lead games such as:

Pin the nose on Rudolph

Snowball toss (using cotton wool balls or white bean bags)

Christmas bingo

Pass the present

Top Tips for a Smooth Santa Visit
Let Santa know the plan: Give your professional Santa a quick briefing on the schedule and expectations when he arrives.

Prepare a quiet space: Some children (especially younger ones) may feel nervous. A quiet room or corner helps ease them in.

Have a helper on hand: Someone who knows the children or guests can assist Santa with names, ages, or any special needs.

Keep numbers in mind: If you’re expecting a large group, think about how long Santa can realistically spend with each child.

Frequently Asked Questions: Making the Most of Your Professional Santa Booking

Can Santa do more than just hand out presents?
Absolutely. Our professional Santas are also great storytellers, entertainers, and hosts. They can lead songs, read stories, and answer all those “How do reindeer fly?” questions.

Can Santa visit a classroom or small group?
Yes. We regularly provide Santas for nurseries, SEN schools, and individual class visits. We adapt to suit the setting and age group.

Do we need to supply props or costumes?
No. Our Santas come fully costumed. If you’d like to add elves we can help arrange that too.

Can Santa personalise the experience?
Definitely. If you send us a guest list or key information ahead of time, Santa can mention children by name or refer to personal details (like their favourite toy or pet).

Can Santa appear in a home setting?
Yes — we do home visits too! A personal visit can be a truly magical moment for children, and our performers know how to adapt to small, family-friendly spaces.

Make Every Moment with your Professional Santa Count

Hiring a professional Santa is a brilliant way to create genuine festive magic. But the real magic happens when you plan around his visit — building the excitement, making space for conversation, and filling the time with warm, joyful activities.

So now that you’ve hired Santa… relax, enjoy, and watch the magic unfold.

At Hire a Santa, we’re proud to supply professional, DBS-checked Santas across the UK — ready to bring joy wherever they go.

If you’d like more ideas, or help planning a festive experience around your Santa visit, we’re here to help.