- May 3, 2024
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Bill and Patricia Kempf share their Christmas spirit with the community every year by impersonating Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
Santa Claus is a snow bird.
Though, technically speaking, his address is in the North Pole, he flocks to sunny Palm Coast every year to trade his winter coat in for a pair of swim trunks.
Bill Kempf has been impersonating Santa since 1999. He not only looks the part but goes the extra mile to make a memorable Christmas for kids.
"He is Santa," said his wife, Patricia, with a smile. Together, the pair makes appearances around Palm Coast and other Flagler County cities.
"More people know me by Santa than by Bill," he laughed.
Bill goes above and beyond your average mall Santa by fully understanding the popular toys on kids' wish lists, and for the sake of parents, looking for a nod of approval before guaranteeing any gifts.
But what if the unthinkable happens and an unbelieving child tries to pull on his beard and question his authority? Well, Bill has a creative way to deal with that too.
"Usually, they ask where the reindeer are," he said. "I say that they are parked at the airport, in the very back because they like to eat the berries that grow there. But the berries make them sick, so we can't bring them with us."
Though you might think Santa makes a lot of dough through all these Christmas gigs, think again. The Kempfs are volunteers, doing it all in the name of the Christmas spirit.
