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Elko Edition REaching ElkhaRt, kosciusko, noblE and lagRangE countiEs
December 2025
Vol. 38, No. 10
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Kurtis Burns:
Santa for hire By ANNIKA YODER Staff Writer
takes place, he transforms from a 51-year-old phlebotomist to the man in the red suit starting with bleaching his beard about a week before With Christmas around Halloween. Initiating the transition the corner there are for the holidays turns into a 24/7 several tell tale signs the position once Burns becomes the jolly season is approaching. old elf. Though he originally began Lights are being strung with using a prosthetic beard, Burns up, people are taking said it did not have the same feel and out their winter coats chose to go full white beard for the and Santa Clauses portrayal. appearing on street “I’ll get the suit out and get it corners. For Kurtis Burns, a Santa for ready. Make sure the boots are polished and all the bells and everything hire, the holiday are where they’re supposed to be and preparation I will start bleaching my beard bestarts around cause I have to bleach it. It’s a whole October. process.” When Burns began working as a Santa what Claus when he decided to dress up as Burns Old Saint Nick for Halloween. After calls the donning the costume and becoming “SantaSanta, the audience reaction conficavinced him to give the suit a shot and tion” become a professional Santa. According to Burns, because of his beard children often approach him even without the outfit on so he has to be able to turn into Santa at a moment’s notice. “Once I go white, it’s crazy. That’s when I really have to start watching how I approach kids, how I talk to kids,” Burns said. “Parents apologizing because their kid comes over and just wants to READY FOR THE SEASON — After a postive reaction to him dressing up as Santa talk to me for a for Halloween, Kurtis Burns now portrays Santa during the Christmas season, visiting
second. It’s BRINGlike once ING MAGIC TO I see the THE SEASON — Kurchild, I become tis Burns said he tries to Santa. I will be more Christlike in how lower to their he plays Santa. This means level and talk taking time and not being to them, I don’t in a rush. Photo protalk down to vided by Kurtis them. I always Burns. get on their level.” With Christmas drawing closer, families prepare for the festivities in a number of ways with decorating, warming up for caroling or shopping for loved ones. This season, however, is anticipated to look different for many Elkhart County residents. The federal government shutdown halting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program along with government employees missing weeks of pay, has caused concern among not just those in need. The holiday season can look different for a lot of families and according to Burns he anticipates this Christmas season will be more difficult for parents and children. “I think it’s gonna be a really hard season. I think living in Elkhart, you kind of get used to the factory downtimes,” Burns said. “But I think this year is going to be just unusually hard. And I’m hoping that a lot of the folks in the factories are prepared for that.” For Burns, portraying Santa means more than just growing a beard and putting on a red suit. Going wherever Santa is needed, Burns has portrayed Kris Kringle for Continued on page 3
area nursing homes and other events. Photo provided by Kurtis Burns.
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