Singing Santa brings Christmas spirit to Red Feather Lakes

By Linda Bell
Correspondent

When families arrive at Red Feather Lakes after their quest for that perfect Christmas tree, they often stop by the Pot Belly Restaurant for a mug of cocoa or lunch and, as a bonus, run into the singing Santa--his pack filled with candy canes, his black cowboy boots topped in white fur, and his voice in fine form.

Bill Hansen started being a seasonal Santa in 1997 when he responded to a Denver ad for "cheerful men" to play Santa at various children's events. Hansen started adding Christmas carols and songs into his personal repertoire, and that turned out to be a big hit. A professionally trained bass singer, he has performed with Opera Colorado, Denver Opera and Fort Collins Opera.

Hansen said he so enjoyed his seasonal career, he bought the small Santa entertainment business in Denver when the former owner moved. It was also about that time, he said, that he moved to Red Feather Lakes to work as a water resource manager and consultant. That made the Denver engagements more difficult, but he still travels to Broomfield each year to do a benefit.

In his early Santa days, Hansen scheduled about 25 engagements a year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but now he limits his appearances to ones closer to home, appearing in both private and public settings and carefully tailoring his performances to each event.

"Since I can stay on pitch and choose appropriate starting keys," Hansen said, "I'm able to lead singalongs without accompaniment." It's especially fun to watch the teenagers hold back about as long as they can, then join in singing with all the enthusiasm of the adults and younger kids, he added.

"Really, it's all about having fun, and I always end up having the most fun," Hansen said.

Hansen said he loves seeing how the smaller children believe in him, which happens most often when he's hired by families to be their personal Santa. Then he gets to fill his toy sack and pull out gifts one at a time before the singing starts.

Hansen has a doctorate in engineering and taught at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado at Denver. When he's not Santa, or consulting, he teaches and guides fly fishing around Red Feather Lakes. He is also choir director at Chapel in the Pines.