Did you know playing Santa Claus pays up to $150 per hour?
John Beaty thought that money could do a lot more good in local communities than in his own pocket, so for the last 10 years he has played the role of Santa only if the money he would have been paid is given to food pantries and similar charities in the community where he appears.
Beaty plays Santa in northern Hamilton County and beyond, and always with donations to the needy in mind.
For the non-Santa portion of his life, Beaty is a union brick mason who is currently helping build a non-denominational church in Fishers that serves 3,000 people.
When The Reporter caught up to Beaty – hereafter only referred to as Santa – he was making his list of appearances and checking it twice. Good news: Cicero is on the nice list this year. Apparently, the Nickel Plate Express is as well, since he was recently riding the rails with them on the Reindeer Express in late November.
Though he was only on the train for one weekend this year, Nickle Plate Express Director Dagny Zupin said because he is paid through food pantry donations, they will definitely have him back for events next year.
“I do at least three or four events in Hamilton County each year,” Santa said. “I have never, never, never charged. It is always for food pantry donations. For example, I am the Town of Cicero’s Santa Claus and I own a concession stand I am setting up there with 100 percent going to the food pantry.”
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, Cicero’s annual Christmas parade begins its journey at the Hamilton North Public Library, 209 W. Britton St., Cicero. This free event is sponsored by the Cicero Kiwanis Club.
“In the parade, I will be on the fire truck with Mrs. Claus,” Santa said. “Then we go to the Santa building and my kettle corn concession stand is right next door staffed with 100 percent volunteers.”
During the month of December each year for the last decade, he has raised $5,000 to $7,000. He focuses on Hamilton and Tipton counties, but he does travel to other parts of Indiana to spread Christmas cheer.
“I go through over 2,000 big candy canes and people donate those,” Santa told The Reporter. “So, I see over 2,000 kids each year.”
He has never been in the Cicero Christmas parade before, but says he hopes his kettle corn stand can generate over $1,000 to donate.
“I want all that money to stay in Hamilton County,” Santa said. “Whatever town I’m in is where that money stays. That’s my goal. Furnishing food for hungry people.”
Come to the Cicero Christmas parade
Each year northern Hamilton County residents brave the cold and snow to welcome Santa on his sleigh and bring a gift to add to his sack of toys. They know that these presents go to children in the tri-town communities of Cicero, Arcadia and Atlanta who may not otherwise have much under their trees.
Attendees may bring unwrapped toys to the parade, where Santa’s elves will collect them along the parade route or drop off toys at the Cicero Fire Department. These toys are given away at the annual King’s Treasure Christmas Party, which takes place the following week, is spearheaded by the Cicero Fire Department, Cicero Kiwanis Club and the Jackson Township Fire Department.
The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade is Town of Cicero Parks Superintendent Charlie Cambre. As Parks Superintendent, Cambre directs all activities within the Cicero Parks System and since 1991, he has worked diligently to improve the town’s parks, park programs and park events for the community. Charlie will be retiring after more than 28 years of service to the town and the community.
Following the parade, children can get a little closer to Santa and have their picture taken with him at the Hamilton North Public Library–Cicero branch. He will greet children, pose for photos, listen to their Christmas wishes, and – if they are good of course – give them a goody bag to take home.
The Christmas parade begins at 1 p.m. at the Hamilton North Public Library, 209 W. Britton St., Cicero. This free event is sponsored by the Cicero Kiwanis Club.
The Holiday Market Place is also open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library. It’s a great place to find that special Christmas gift for friends and family.