As the holiday season rolls in, it’s hard not to think of Santa Claus and our cozy memories of childhood. Santa is the ultimate symbol of giving, reminding us all how magical it feels to share with others.
This time of year is all about spreading good cheer, whether through thoughtful gifts, charitable acts or just a simple smile. Each act of kindness lights up the season, creating ripple effects of happiness. Greeley is so lucky to have its very own Santa Claus to brighten the year and share that vibrant spirit of giving!
Steve Smiley, Men's Head Basketball Coach at UNC & wife Nikki Smiley, Director of the Physical Education and Recreation Department at Aims
Nikki
I always loved Christmas morning and couldn't wait to wake up to see the gifts from Santa. My most favorite gift was a Cricket talking doll. I remember that moment like it was yesterday.
My family had a very strong Christmas tradition when I was growing up, and we would all go down to Wheatland, WY, where my grandparents lived. My fondest memories started on Christmas Eve where we all gathered at my Grandma Opal's house to hang out, eat and play games all day long.
In the evening, we started with a grab bag gift – everyone drew a number which corresponded to one of the gifts under the tree. After that, we exchanged family gifts and then everyone would split up and go to the house they were staying for Christmas Eve.
In the morning, we would open presents from Santa, and then we would all gather back at Grandma Opal's house to spend time together on Christmas Day.
To give back during the Holidays, we try to do the "giving tree" at Generations Church, as well as take part in Aims’ Allied Health Department’s gift donation. We find a family in need, and our department splits up the individuals in the family and donates to their wish list.
Steve
Same as my wife, I've always loved the anticipation of Christmas morning. We would typically do Midnight Mass as a family on Christmas Eve, and then still be up early the next day trying to wake our parents up to get the gift opening started! My favorite gift as a kid was shared with my older brother, and it was a Sega Genesis gaming machine. The best gift ever!
These days, our tradition is very much the same — maybe open a couple presents on Christmas Eve, but then typically do an evening (or Midnight Mass) church service. Then the following morning, the family exchanges gifts, enjoys a great breakfast and spends time together.
Until it shut down, the Greeley Griswold’s house was a staple on Christmas Eve, but we still enjoy driving around and looking at some lights.
As for giving, we also do the UNC Athletics "giving tree" to help donate a few items to families through that pathway, as well.
Kevin Ross, Weld County Commissioner at Large
My favorite memory as a child was trying to stay up to catch Santa Clause in the act. One particular Christmas, I went downstairs around 11 p.m., and he had not visited yet. I woke up a couple hours later, and he had arrived. His reindeer had eaten the carrot sticks on the roof, and I could see their hoof prints in the snow.
My current favorite thing to do is getting together with family and friends to walk the neighborhood and sing Christmas carols to the neighbors!
During the holidays, we like to provide food to many communities for their local dinners that they put on for the less fortunate. I have long volunteered serving chili and soup for the Eaton Christmas Celebration.
We also have our kids fill out boxes of toys for Operation Christmas Child, making sure kids receive a gift and a message of Christ. And we like to donate coats for children to keep them warm over the winter months.
Neal Kingman, Vice President at Bank of Colorado & wife Kaylyn Kingman, Assistant Principal at S. Christa McAuliffe S.T.E.M. Academy
Our favorite Christmas memory was the first Christmas Eve and Christmas morning we had with our oldest son Carter when he was finally old enough to “get it.” Seeing his excitement as parents was really special, and it was something we were fortunate enough to be able to experience again with his younger brother and sister.
Our favorite current tradition is every year when we wrap presents after the kids are in bed, we each make ourselves a heavy-handed cocktail and we watch White Christmas (my favorite Christmas movie) while we wrap.
We typically will also find a local Christmas "giving tree" and take a few tags and get gifts for those kiddos in need.
Angela Turk, Registered Critical Care Nurse at Denver Health & husband Adam Turk, Greeley Police Chief
Angela
Christmas is such a magical time of year. It takes a full day to get ready for Christmas in our house. I have years and years of memories that consist of watching my husband dance around on the roof (always looking like he could fall at any time) putting up Christmas lights, usually in the cold. As for the inside of our house, it looks like Santa himself threw up in it. Not a corner is spared with decorations.
When our two boys, Kaden and Quinten, were little, our favorite tradition was to do something magical before Christmas. We would do a Santa train, go to Estes for the night, have breakfast with Santa or even go ice skating with the big guy.
Now that the boys are older, our favorite tradition is to go to Christmas Eve Church Service with family and friends before heading out to admire all the Christmas lights around town.
On Christmas morning, like most, the boys wake up early to see what Santa brought them, followed by our odd but favorite tradition of eating huevos rancheros for breakfast. Then, to top it off, we have a master feast which consists of a Cajun boil with our friends and family on Christmas night.
Adam
I would echo what Angela, my real life boss, says. Angela does all of the interior decorating, planning and picks out our Christmas Eve outfits and Christmas light tours. Spending time together as a family is what I will always remember about Christmas. And Angela makes an incredible huevos rancheros!
Throughout the year, our family does a lot of volunteering with Meals on Wheels every other week and Veterans Affairs, which consists of driving veterans to their medical appointments in Cheyenne and Loveland on Mondays every other week. But, during the holidays, our primary giving is through Santa Cops of Weld County in the form of wrapping and delivering presents to underprivileged families.
Retired Bank Executive, Patty Gates & husband Mayor John Gates
In Patty's family, we always went to church on Christmas Eve — all of the children got a bag of nuts, an orange and a peppermint stick. Then, the dads would drive all of the kids around Greeley to look at the lights. When we got back to our house, Santa had been there! We were obviously on the early delivery route!
In the Gates family, John's dad Gid (who was the most wonderful practical joker) would wrap empty boxes and put them out in the street in front of their house. Then, the whole Gates family would watch people stop, look around and happily pick up the "wonderful presents" they found!
Christmas morning for the last 26 years that we have been married has been a time to gather all of our family together — eating wonderful food, exchanging gifts and truly thanking God for our blessings!
We have a special place in our hearts for kids, especially around the holidays. We donate to the Weld Food Bank, Santa Cops, Boys & Girls Club among others.
Hunter Hoshiko, Owner of Larado Whiskey and H2 Consultants
My best memories were making gingerbread men and sugar cookies with my maternal great-grandmother and going to my paternal grandmother's house to celebrate Christmas with the family.
The fondest memory I have, though, is getting my first shotgun when I was 12 years old. It was a memory I will never forget.
My family and I give to an organization called Northern Colorado Youth for Christ. It is an organization that supports teens in the Greeley area and helps guide them through meaningful relationships and mentorship.
They have an indoor skatepark, concert venue and kids’ hangout area. They also run a program called Rebalance — a program that works closely with District 6 to help with the mental health challenges that many of our youth are facing today.
Kelli Johnson, Assistant City Manager
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday! My husband and I share a love for all things about the Christmas season. The family time, laughter, spirit of giving and connection to our faith make it a magical time.
Hands down, though, our shared favorite memory will forever be welcoming our son into the world on Christmas Day 2009. That year, we spent Christmas Eve in the hospital waiting for him to make his entrance. We waited and waited and waited some more.
We were the only patients that evening, and when Caleb was born, we were surrounded by family and friends. A blessing from above!
Every year, even with a teenager now, we wake up to see what special treasure Santa has left. In the early years with our son, we prayed he’d sleep in and give us a few hours of rest after having stayed up late to assemble whatever special gift Santa left. Now, we wake up and wait for the teenager to rise and shine.
We always settle in with coffee and hot cocoa to see what special things were left in our stockings and take turns opening gifts. We enjoy the morning with Christmas music and the warm fireplace. For us, the day carries on, and in the early evening, we extend the celebration and family time for our son’s birthday celebration.
We love giving through our faith community and a hyper-local non-profit, Weld Family Cares, run by the company my husband works for. We usually sponsor a few families for the holiday by providing gifts for the entire family.
We also can’t pass up the “giving trees” that are set up around town. We usually pick a teenager close in age to our son and have him select a gift for that kid.
Tara Rasmuson, Owner of Greeley Lifestyle Magazine
Last year, because our kids are older, my husband Craig and I were missing buying all the fun toys at Christmas. So, we signed up to support the children of women who were being housed at the women's shelter, A Woman's Place.
They gave us the gender, ages and interests of several kids, and we had such a great time buying gifts that we hoped they would love. It meant a lot that we could help brighten their holiday when their families were in such a stressful situation.
We will do this every year from now on!
Front Range Santa
Being Santa Claus means so much more than donning a red suit and growing a white beard; it’s about embodying the togetherness and kindness that Santa represents to people of all ages.
Everyone who sees Santa Claus, at least for that small moment, is a child again!
We all become part of the timeless story—a reminder of the joy, warmth and love that the Christmas season represents.
For those interested in taking part in the seasonal spirit of giving, Santa recommends looking into these local nonprofits: Santa Cops of Weld County, Weld Elves, Toys 4 Tots Weld County, Serve 6.8, United Way of Weld County, Genesis Project House, Hope House, WHALE Respite, NICU, A Women's Place, Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center and Catholic Charities of Denver (Guadalupe Community Center).
To reach out to Front Range Santa for your own special visit, please visit: frontrangesanta.com.
"During the holidays, we like to provide food to many communities for their local dinners that they put on for the less fortunate." Kevin Ross
"Our favorite current tradition is every year when we wrap presents after the kids are in bed, we each make ourselves a heavy-handed cocktail and we watch White Christmas." Neal and Kaylyn Kingman
"When our two boys, Kaden and Quinten, were little, our favorite tradition was to do something magical before Christmas." Angela Turk
"Christmas morning for the last 26 years that we have been married has been a time to gather all of our family together — eating wonderful food, exchanging gifts and truly thanking God for our blessings!" Patty and Mayor John Gates
"My best memories were making ginger bread men and sugar cookies with my great-grandmother from my mom's side and going out to my other grandmother's house on my dad's side." Hunter Hoshiko
"Hands down, though, our shared favorite memory will forever be welcoming our son into the world on Christmas Day 2009." Kelli Johnson