Santa Mike Owens, Guest Instructor

When Mike was a sophomore in college in Alexandria, Louisiana, the local K-Mart advertised for a Santa for Christmas 1967. He applied and got the job. For three years with a fake beard and pillow stuffing, he entertained the children of central Louisiana.

He enjoyed the time so much, after he graduated, he had his own suit made and continued to entertain children at Christmastime - fake beard and all!

In the meantime, Mike attended Clown College on the Road in Houston, Texas and began a career as a Professional Clown. Again, entertaining children not only in Louisiana, but in Costa Rica, in Central America. While there he was the featured clown at the home of the United States’ Ambassador to Costa Rica for their Fourth of July festivities. He also taught a class in Clowning in the Drama Department at the Universidad de Costa Rica. Over the years, he also taught Puppetry at many churches and schools in Louisiana as well as performing puppet shows across the state.

It wasn’t until 2015 when he moved to Georgia that he was encouraged to become a real bearded Santa. Two years later he became a “Real Bearded Santa of North Georgia!” And soon after that he became an Instructor with Northern Lights Santa Academy.  Here, he taught Santas how to communicate with deaf children. He also developed a YouTube video teaching basic signs to Santas, as “Santa Signs Mike Owens”.

We are proud to welcome Santa Mike Owens back to the Northern Lights Santa Academy for our Fall 2019 session!