BEMIDJI -- A Pennington area resident who has donned the red and white suit to play Santa Claus at the Paul Bunyan Mall for the past eight years will do so for the last time today.
Larry Zea, 80, is originally from Iowa and has portrayed Kris Kringle for many years. Before wearing the Santa hat in Bemidji, Zea worked for one year in Mankato and seven years in Chicago.
“I got started doing it at nursing homes originally,” Zea said. “It’s fun working with the kids, but I also really enjoy working with the people at nursing homes. Sometimes they appreciate it more than the kids do.”
The best part of the job, though, remains “seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces,” Zea said Friday at his designated chair at the Paul Bunyan Mall.
However, after 16 years as Santa, Zea said he’s ready to retire.
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“I have enjoyed it very much, but there’s a time for everything to end,” Zea said. “In Chicago, I would work from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., seven days a week, but now even sitting for five hours is tough. I’m 80 now and my legs are giving out on me, so I’ve decided that this will be my last year.”
While today will be his final time as Santa, Zea did give some advice to those looking to take up the Claus mantle.
“You have to have a beard. At big places in Chicago, for example, you have to have a natural beard,” Zea said. “Also, you have to have an outgoing personality and be able to talk to the kids. There’s a lot of patience that goes along with it, too.”
