In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one company is dropping by about 10% in terms of open Santas, Mitch Allen, the founder of HireSanta.com, said.
Health concerns are a major cause of the shortage, he said.
"As you can imagine, most Santa Claus entertainers are high-risk for a negative outcome if they get COVID-19," Allen said. "A number of them are sitting this year out like they did last year, and, unfortunately, we lost a percent of them over the last 18 months due to COVID-19."
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Allen will be able to satisfy all his Santa orders this year, he said. Nevertheless, Santa's supporters will only be open for a short time, according to Allen.
A Santa supplier in San Diego repeated Allen's worry about the shortage. This year, Brittany Skipper, Royal Entertainers' owner, a company that uses actors to play Santas at special events, has lost 20 possible Santas.
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The shortage in supply coincides with an uptick in demand, Skipper said.
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Requests for Santa have grown 120% this year, she said.
One of Santa's helpers, Darrick Betzenderfer, said he was not reprising his position as the big man this year and said families should think ahead and make reservations if they want to meet Santa, the report stated.
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He also said that those who wish to see Santa should also be ready for safety protocols, mask mandates, and social distancing.
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"Safety is the number one thing for our guests first and foremost," Steven Sayers, senior general manager of Glendale Galleria, told TODAY. "So their level of comfort and how they feel about the sensory experience is what matters the most."
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For little ones like 3 1/2-year-old Dominic La Porte, meeting Santa for the first time was a highlight of the holidays. "I like it!" he said about the experience.
In the wake of COVID-19, many holiday traditions have been shaken up. With Christmas trees getting more expensive and even a wine and spirit shortage due to supply chain issues, these things can be a buzzkill. Even though the pandemic may change the way we celebrate, the message of Christmas stays the same.
"I would love people to be happy, and to be safe," said one Santa. If you're planning to meet Santa, companies recommend making online reservations as early as possible, as time slots are filling up fast.