To his neighbors in Sun City, he is Bob Begora. But as winter approaches, a transformation takes place. Begora’s natural beard is bleached a snowy white, an international North Pole driver’s license is tucked into a velvet pocket, and he steps perfectly into the role of Santa Claus. For 14 years, he has mastered this craft – bringing smiles to the faces of numerous children and adults alike — and this season, he needs his neighbors’ help.
Begora’s transformation into Santa began entirely by accident. “I started playing Santa while growing my beard, which was just a tradition of mine for winter,” Begora said. Seeing his impressive facial hair, a friend suggested he step into the role. “When I started, I worked at the mall,” Begora recalled. That initial experience unlocked doors he never could have anticipated, bringing magnificent opportunities. Today, he stays busy on weekends with private home visits and restaurant holiday parties.
Santa actor Bob Begora with his book of nice children. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
But this year, before the bleach is even applied, the North Pole is facing a serious crisis: a critical shortage of Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and elves.
“Santa simply can’t be everywhere at once,” Begora said, issuing an urgent plea to his fellow Sun City neighbors to help rescue the season. “The malls have a severe shortage of Santas, especially on the weekends. And of course, Santas get sick. They need someone to step in so the children are not disappointed.”
Fortunately, aspiring holiday performers don’t have to travel far for backup. Local volunteers can lean on the Northern Illinois Christmas Entertainers — perfectly abbreviated as N.I.C.E. About 50 people attend their meetings, including Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and elves.
For Begora, being Santa is a true craft that requires deep preparation, relentless professionalism, and personal dedication.
“Every year, I travel to attend specialized Santa training classes to keep my skills sharp,” he said. “Just like everything else, there are classes, and I always learn something each time.”
He even expanded his talents through N.I.C.E. meetings.
“I learned some sign language at one of these. It makes such a difference that I have picked up a few more phrases besides ‘Merry Christmas.'”
Today, Begora carries a sign language reference book with him in uniform. To connect with as many families as possible, he can also say Merry Christmas in 26 different languages.
He relies on this lifetime of careful preparation to answer the ultimate question.
“Children always ask if I am real,” Begora said with a smile. To prove it, his favorite pieces of evidence are tucked right inside his velvet suit.
“I have an international driver’s license,” Begora revealed.
The custom North Pole credential includes a bit of classic holiday humor: indicated under the ID section for weight, it says “plump.” Along with the license, Begora carries The Big Book, which lists all the children on the nice List, and special cards indicating whether a child is good, not sure, or naughty.
He also ensures his toy sack is prepared for any oversight.
“I always carry a teddy bear or stuffed dinosaur in my bag when I go to a home event.” Begora explained. “You never know when a child is left out accidentally, and it ruins the evening if there is no gift for them.”
Ultimately, Begora is completely in it for the children, especially when the requests brought to his lap go far deeper than toys.
“There was a little girl who just wanted to have her grandmother back for Christmas,” Begora recalled softly. Perceiving the deep grief wrapped in her wish, Begora found a gentle way to comfort her. “I was able to change the conversation and asked her if I could give her grandmother a special hug from her when I stopped to see her in heaven.” The impact was immediate. “She was happy with that.”
In another powerful moment at the mall, Begora encountered a young girl who had recently lost her mother and was completely overwhelmed by despair. Thinking quickly on his feet, he used a tiny light hidden inside his glove, a prop he normally saves for Rudolph games. He led the child to a massive Christmas tree to find a special bulb that would let her keep her mother forever.
He placed a glowing bulb into her small palm and asked her to close her fist. “I told her, when you open your fist, if the light bulb is no longer lit, that means the light, her spirit, has left your hand and is now inside of you, and you will have her forever.” When the child opened her hand and the bulb was out, her face lit up with joy. “The father was crying when the child’s face lit up,” Begora said.
Because magic can happen anywhere, Begora emphasizes that a Santa is never truly off-duty.
“Santa should always be in full dress when heading out,” he noted, recalling a quick trip to Walgreens for lozenges where he looked up to find a child staring in amazement. “Practice smiling,” he advised. “You should always have a smile on your face.”
“If anyone is interested, I would love to explain what it takes to be a Santa,” Begora said. If you are ready to help spread the Christmas spirit and answer the call, please get in touch with Begora directly at santasmagicalexperience@gmail.com.
