He appeared in a horse-drawn carriage five days before Thanksgiving, with all the fanfare and hype of royalty.
Since his triumphant arrival at Valley River Center, Saint Nick has become quite familiar with the people of Eugene, Makiia Lucier, the assistant marketing manager at Valley River Center, said. She said Santa has been interviewed on the local radio station KDUCK, as well as other local media outlets.
“The local TV media have been out here several times,” said Lucier. “He’s a happening kind of guy.”
This man who dons the famous red suit is sometimes known as Eugene resident Allen Wade, but has adopted the persona of “Santa Claus.”
“We’re lucky to have found him,” said Valley River Center marketing manager Amy Bresler. “He is the sweetest man — the perfect Santa.”
This particular Santa is a member of Naturally Santa, Inc., a company that employs “Santa’s helpers” with natural beards to roam the country year-round. Finding one of these “natural” Santas right here in Eugene is very fortunate, Bresler said.
Though “Santa” said he keeps busy until Christmas Eve, he said his work doesn’t stop after the last Christmas present is delivered. He said he travels throughout the country all year catching children by surprise.
“Santa” said he sees quite a reaction when he walks through a store such as Costco in full costume in the middle of the year.
“I never get sick of red and white and green,” he said. “Pretty much everything I wear (is red, white, or green) unless I go out to check on people who I don’t want to recognize me — bad boys and girls.”
Santa won’t be caught wearing green and yellow, though — or black and orange, for that matter.
“This Civil War time is a really fun time of the year,” he said.
Saint Nick said he has a big game up at the North Pole — the Reindeer versus the Polar Bears — and that’s where he gets into the game. Though he shows no particular school allegiance, “Santa” said he admits that the Duck spirit in Eugene is huge, especially with younger children.
“You’d be surprised how much I’ve been asked for (a Civil War victory),” he said.
He said on one particular day, five boys between the ages of five and seven approached Santa with their gift lists.
“After they gave me their lists, I’d look at them and say, ‘If you had the chance to trade the gifts on your list for a Civil War victory, which would you take?’” he said.
All five of them said they wanted the football win before the toys.
“Duck blood runs through here very thickly,” he said.
“Santa” said he comes in contact with a lot of young people who have Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington as their hero.
“One of the boys had to be called Joey when he was here,” he said. “This college really affects the entire town.”
Duck fans and Duck students alike visit “Santa.” He said he was visited by half a dozen college-age students one day in November.
“I love it,” he said. “I always ask them what their majors are and how they’re doing. It’s great.”
Sophomore Kasie Kudrewicz went to see “Santa” two weeks ago because she said she doesn’t feel too old.
“It was fun,” Kudrewicz said. “I’m going to be him when I grow up.”