Since 1960, we have helped bring Santa to millions of families across North America.
Today, Santa Central exists to support the people behind the beard at Cherry Hill Programs, providing community, training, opportunity, and a place to belong.
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For more than six decades, Cherry Hill Programs has proudly brought Santa to millions of families through iconic, trusted destinations across North America.
What began as a mission to connect families with the magic of Santa has grown into something even bigger, a commitment to Santa themselves.
Today, Santa Central is a year-round home for professional Santas, offering thoughtful placement, meaningful training, and a connected community designed to help Santas grow, thrive, and feel supported, both in and out of the season.
Every Santa’s path is unique, but at Cherry Hill Programs, no Santa travels alone.
A connected community of Santas who support one another throughout the year.
Professional development, mentorship, certification, and Santa University.
Meaningful opportunities to create memories that families will cherish forever.
Santa Matters.
The role of Santa is more than a suit and a beard.
Tradition Matters.
Every visit helps preserve a tradition passed from generation to generation.
Community Matters.
The best Santas never stop learning from one another.
Families Matter.
Every interaction has the potential to become someone’s favorite Christmas memory.
Each year as Santa brings its own set of stories and memorable moments… Having worked at the same location year after year, the babies I once held for their very first Christmas photo now return as pre-teens. I’ve come to think of these families as “my families.” I often find myself serving as a counselor, as children and adults alike, some as old as 96, feel safe sharing their tragedies and triumphs with Santa… As Santa, I may be participating in—or even creating—the most memorable moment someone experiences all year. Having the opportunity to touch so many lives and become part of their Christmas memories is truly a blessing.
During one visit this season, a young couple shared that their Christmas wish was a miracle—they had been trying for some time to have a baby. In that quiet, tender moment, I reminded them that miracles still happen. As we held hands and prayed together, the love and hope in the room were overwhelming. It is truly an honor to be Santa and to share moments like this with families. I can’t wait for next season, when I hope they return to introduce me to their little miracle.
One afternoon, an excited little girl ran up to me and breathlessly announced, “Santa, you lost this and I found it for you!” She then handed me Santa’s driver’s license with my actual picture on it. The little girl’s parents acquired the license beforehand and arranged for her to “find” it, so she could return it to me. I’d never seen the license before, but I got the drift immediately and went along. Her joyous delight at being able to help Santa made it a precious moment for her parents and for me. I cherish the license and the memory of having received it from her.
One memory always makes me laugh. I’m in the chair at a very large mall in Long Island, New York. I had just finished visiting and taking photos with a 7-year-old little boy. I watch him run over to his mother and shout, “Now that is the REAL Santa! He’s not like that skinny Santa we saw at that store we were at the other day.”
Whether you’re taking your first step into the red suit or continuing a tradition decades in the making, Santa Central is here to help guide you through the journey.