Strolling through the crowd of people wearing swimwear at the Surfside Beach Holiday Inn, Greg Calvert certainly draws attention.
Kids’ mouths open wide and their eyes sparkle when they spot Calvert wearing a red hibiscus Hawaiian shirt, red sneakers, a Santa hat that goes with his shirt, and, naturally, red fuzzy shorts with white trim.
It’s a significant change from Santa’s typical red outfit, which consists of a coat, pants, boots, hat, and gloves.
However, Santa is away on vacation, and in the Myrtle Beach region, where temperatures reach 90 degrees or more in the summer, donning such attire would certainly cause anyone’s icicles to melt.
Children naturally approach Calvert, also called Santa Greg of the Marshwalk, and parents promptly take out their phones to capture a photo.
A different child, carrying a Spider-Man backpack that is nearly as large as himself, embraces Santa’s leg.
“Where do you come from?” Santa asks a young boy. “Ohio,” he answers.
“That’s quite a distance from my home – the North Pole,” Santa Greg says.
You’re not the real Santa,” another child in the water calls out. “The real Santa is at the North Pole.
“I’m on vacation,” same as you, Santa Greg says.
The child stops, clearly considering the notion that Santa also requires a break, and whether his remarks could place him on the naughty list.
I need to leave the North Pole since there are glaciers right outside my door,” Santa says with a laugh. “Ho, ho, ho.
So, for a break, Santa prefers to go somewhere slightly warmer than his usual place. He opts for Myrtle Beach.
Santa abandoned the sleigh and reindeer – opting for three flights to reach South Carolina, with the final one being with the budget airline Spirit, according to Calvert. After all, even Santa has to keep an eye on his expenses.
Exchanging the snow for the sand
It’s common to spot Santa along the Grand Strand during the holiday season. However, during the summer? That’s less likely.
However, some Santas swap the snow for sand during this season, holding family photo sessions on the beach and greeting people during breaks from their toy-making duties for Christmas.
Santa can be spotted in vintage 1920s swimwear, riding golf carts, and relaxing by the pool and beach similar to Calvert.
Calvert, a former financial advisor, launched his new role as Santa in 2019. However, the COVID-19 outbreak occurred, and opportunities for November and December of 2020 were nearly gone. As a result, the New Jersey resident decided to take his Santa character on a break.
“It’s simply moved forward from that point,” the 72-year-old stated.
Currently, Calvert’s Santa role keeps him occupied throughout the year. However, his main summer events take place in July, known as Christmas in July.
He is not only visible on the beach or in hotels, but he also participated in karaoke and an exclusive cruise for adults.
“(I believe) the grown-ups appreciate Santa more than the children,” Calvert chuckled.
He appears every Wednesday in July at the Holiday Inn, located at 1601 N. Ocean Blvd. in Surfside Beach, as well as at several other local businesses and eateries.
After July, Santa will resume his North Pole responsibilities, preparing for the holiday and his renowned one-night journey.
However, Calvert will still attend a few events in December, particularly along the Marshwalk, where he is famous for his part as the Jolly Old Elf.
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