New England Santa Society

New England Santa Society Memorial Fund Created

The New England Santa Society is proud to announce the establishment of a special fund to assist new Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and other Christmas performers get started with their new role.

The New England Santa Society Memorial Fund will help reduce the start-up costs for beginning performers by offering a program to help with the initial cost of attending Preparing for the Sleigh at Santa Camp. The program is open now for the 2024 Santa Camp.

Qualifying applicants will have half the tuition to attend Preparing for the Sleigh deferred for two holiday seasons beyond Santa Camp. That gives them two full seasons to get established before needing to pay the deferred tuition.

We all know the expense of getting started can be daunting. The cost of outfits, accessories, insurance, background checks, marketing, and education can quickly add up to a few thousand dollars per person. Reaching the break-even point, can take a number of seasons.

One of the most important steps to becoming a competent, professional performer is education. A comprehensive introductory course such as our Preparing for the Sleigh offers a solid foundation from which to build a successful Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elf or helper character and career.

To qualify for the program:

* An application will be required of those seeking deferred tuition.

* Applicants must be a full member of New England Santa Society.

* They must be a new or novice Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elf or other Christmas character. Minimal appearances in past years are acceptable.

* They have not attended a similar class or program (in-person or virtual) in the recent past. Participation in workshops or conferences won’t necessarily disqualify someone.

* They have not worked a significant number of holiday events or earned significant income from performing as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elf or similar characters.

Here is the link to the application for any who wish to apply. https://forms.gle/4jzDuhCTMBCszkiR7

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can use this donation form. The contributions can be made in memory of anyone including non-performers, family, organizations, businesses, etc. or simply to support the NESS Memorial Fund. Contributions are not tax-deductible.

Application for Santa Camp Deferred Tuition The New England Santa Society is proud to announce the establishment of a special fund to assist new Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and other Christmas performers get started with their new role. The New England Santa Society Memorial Fund will help reduce the start-up costs for beginning performers by offer...

Be sure to check your email. News from NESS about some new additions. Go to this survey for information on all the committees. And volunteer to help keep NESS growing.

NESS Committee Information & Sign Up Following are short descriptions of all NESS committees, new and old. These are a brief summary of what they do. The committees are free to come up with other plans and activities. Each committee has a Board Coach who assists the group and reports to the Board. All committees will have Chairs or Co-...

NESS is in the news again. Great article from The Valley Breeze in RI.

Santa's summer school Tucked away in the woods of Greenfield, N.H., is a place that on the surface may appear as the quintessential New England summer camp. But for one late August weekend

Don't forget to submit your nominations for the NESS Santa Hall of Fame. You can fill out a nomination form on our website.

NESS Hall of Fame - New England Santa Society New England Santa Society Hall of Fame We are lucky to have so many wonderful members. However, every organization has members who stand out. Members whose efforts, contributions, and kindness (more...)

The Annual Meeting and Reunion 2023 was a great success! It was wonderful seeing everyone. Thank you all for helping to shape NESS plans for 2023.

Outstanding story featuring NESS members.

New England Santa Camp: Where the region's Santas and Mrs. Clauses get their training Picture a quintessential New England summer camp, but replace cabins with a conference center and the campers with Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves.

New England Santa Society updated their address.

Learn what the upcoming documentary Santa Camp is all about. Here’s the trailer for the HBO Original feature releasing Nov. 17 on HBO Max.

Real Santa Hopefuls Go to School in 'Santa Camp' Trailer: Kids Want 'Somebody Who Looks Like Them' A transgender Santa, a Black Santa and a Santa with a disability are all featured in the new HBO Max documentary: "What's the problem?"

SANTA CAMP DOCUMENTARY WORLD PREMIER
NOVEMBER 12 –– DOC NYC, NEW YORK CITY

The World Premier of Santa Camp will take place, Saturday, November 12 at 6:45 pm at DOC NYC – America’s largest documentary film festival. Th screening takes place at IFC Center, 323 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10014.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are available through the link below. The cost is $19 per person; $17 for seniors & children. A number of camp alumni are planning to attend the Premier.

A second screening will take place on Sunday, November 13 (4:30 pm) at Cinepolis Chelsea, 260West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011.

For those unable to attend in person, the festival offers an online streaming option for $12.00. The film can be streamed on Sunday, November 13 & Monday, November 14 only.

More DOC NYC festival information and tickets are available here: https://www.docnyc.net/film/santa-camp/

The Santa Camp documentary is a Max Original that will be available for streaming on HBO Max in mid November.

Santa Camp is a school for Santa, Mrs. Claus & the Elves sponsored and taught by the New England Santa Society.

Big news! The Max Original documentary film SANTA CAMP will debut on HBO Max this November and have its world premiere on Saturday, November 12 at the IFC Center as part of DOC NYC – America's largest documentary festival. The screening takes place at 6:45 pm at IFC Center, 323 6th Ave, New York, NY.

The full-length documentary features NESS's Santa Camp, A School for Santas, Mrs. Claus & the Elves and the stories of three nontraditional Santas beginning their journeys as holiday performers.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are available using the link below.

A second showing will be held at Cinépolis Chelsea, 260 W 23rd St, New York, NY, on Sunday, November 13 at 4:30 pm.

The film will also be available to view online through the festival on November 13 & 14 only.

Santa Camp will debut on HBO Max in November.

SANTA CAMP - DOC NYC WORLD PREMIERE: Each summer in the woodlands of New Hampshire, aspiring Kris Kringles convene at Santa Camp. When three “nontraditional” recruits join the

Our fond farewell to Eric the Elf. He was one-of-a-kind and loved spreading the joy of Christmas to young and old alike.

While he often appeared as Santa, he passion was being Eric the Elf where he could showcase his whimsical and mischievous nature.

It was Eric who coined the name Santa Camp which we now use for our annual school.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, September 13th from 4-8 p.m. at the French and Rising Funeral Home 17 S. Mast Street Goffstown, NH 03045. A graveside service will be held at the Veterans Cemetery Boscawen, NH Friday, September 16th at 3 p.m.



https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/unionleader/name/eric-merrill-obituary?id=36460847

Eric D. Merrill Obituary (1953 - 2022) Union Leader View Eric D. Merrill's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

Time is running out! Last chance to sign up for Santa Camp 2022.

Go to https://SantaCamp2022.eventbrite.com for details and to register.

Time and space is running out. Sign up today for Santa Camp 2020.

https://santacamp2022.eventbrite.com

The deadline to register for A Day at Lake Compounce Food Drive & Meet and Greet is coming up quick! If you are a member of NESS or CTSS and plan to join us on July 16th, be sure to purchase your ticket(s) by July 6th. Check out the details and get your tickets on our website https://newenglandsantasociety.org/event/a-day-at-lake-compounce-food-drive-meet-and-greet-july-16th/

We are happy to announce that Santa Suppers are back! Please remember to RSVP through our website so we can let the wonderful restaurant plan for our visit.
https://newenglandsantasociety.org/https-newenglandsantasociety-org-events/

I am sorry to say that due to a high number of individuals in our Santa Community contracting COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution, the NESS Board has decided to cancel all in-person events for the remainder of May. This includes the RI, Wakefield, and NH Santa Suppers and the CT Puppet Museum Tour. We plan to resume in-person events in June and will keep you posted on any additional changes.
Please take care of yourselves and reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey RI Peeps! Don't forget to let us know if you plan to join us for the monthly supper at Gregg's Tavern on Monday, 4/18. Please RSVP on our website https://newenglandsantasociety.org/event/rhode-island-santa-supper/ -now so we can let the restaurant know how many will be coming!

Be sure to check out the April program on Zoom on April 23rd-Working with Christmas Entertainer Agents. We we will have a couple of agents call in and share what they look for in Christmas entertainers. Many of them are year round talent agents looking to fill various roles. Register through our website https://newenglandsantasociety.org/event/april-education-program-working-with-christmas-entertainer-agents/

Hello CT members and friends! Just a friendly reminder to RSVP if you plan to attend the CT Santa Supper this Wednesday, 4/13 at Wood n Tap in Southington. It really helps the wonderful staff prepare for our visit.
It is now easy to RSVP on the Events/Workshop page of our new website https://newenglandsantasociety.org/https-newenglandsantasociety-org-events/ Just enter your name, email and the number of people attending!

We look forward to seeing everyone at Mick Morgan's tomorrow night! Please remember to let us know you are coming by providing an RSVP on our new website-Don't forget to let us you know you are coming to the Southern MA/Northern RI Supper! Visit our new website to RSVP https://newenglandsantasociety.org/https-newenglandsantasociety-org-events/

Don't forget to let us you know you are coming to the Southern MA/Northern RI Supper this Wednesday, 4/6 at Mick Morgan's! Visit our new website to RSVP https://newenglandsantasociety.org/https-newenglandsantasociety-org-events/

Don't forget to register for the NESS Virtual Progam-Share Your Favorite Santa/Mrs. Claus Gear and Resources on March 26th from 1 to 3. Register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErce-srj0jE9DggRszZDUm1Aru8W4vzkpN