Illiana Lifestyle Winter 2022 | Page 10

10 ILLIANA MAGAZINE — WINTER 2022
Santa Claus , aka Monty Schroeder of Danville . Provided photo .
sometimes talks to the children who don ’ t want to sit on Santa ’ s lap . There is a bench beside Santa ’ s chair in case they don ’ t want to sit on Santa ’ s lap .
Sherrie said he ’ s known some of the kids since they were babies . Now , they are bringing their kids .
“ I ’ m seeing some of them three generations now as doing Santa ,” he said .
Each year , his busy time starts in October with Festival of Trees planning events . Even though it ’ s usually still warm , Santa still is there .
Then usually starting with the annual Festival of Trees , in early November , he ’ ll have the suit on full time . He ’ ll be living in it for most the rest of the year .
“ I lose him for a couple weeks ,” Schroeder ’ s wife , Sherrie , said .
He ’ ll put in 50 to 60 hours playing Santa .
Weekends in December are pretty booked full , in addition to some nights during the week .
On Christmas Eve he normally has eight to 10 houses to visit .
When the COVID-19 pandemic started , he cut back on his Santa time , only going out a couple times . He also wore a mask .
To make home visits more personalized , families send scripts for him so Santa will know the children ’ s Elf on the Shelf names and other things about their lives and interests .
It really brings Santa closer to them . They think Santa really knows them , he said .
The month of December is largely come home , take off his work clothes and put on the Santa suit and go out the door to play Santa . Schroeder works at the Vermilion Housing Authority as a housing inspector .
“ I could have a really bad day at work , but I come home and I start putting my suit on and I get jolly , and I get excited . I truly think I am Santa . I get into the character 100 percent . I love it ,” Schroeder said .
It ’ s hard for anything to stop him . One year he had a knee replacement and he had to put the children on his lap on the other knee . They made it work .
“ I wasn ’ t missing it ; knee replacement or not ,” he said .
He foresees himself playing Santa for many more years , as long as he can .
“ I truly love it and enjoy it . Even though it ’ s some really long hours at the Festival of Trees , I love it . I thrive off of it . I look forward to it ,” he said . “ I always love getting to be able to play Santa . It ’ s a big highlight of my life and I ’ ve been doing it a long time .”

10 ILLIANA MAGAZINE — WINTER 2022