Jim Hastings

“Durham’s Santa and St. Nicholas”
Durham, North Carolina
1945 – Current

International Santa Claus Hall of Fame – December 2020

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Jim Hastings has crafted his vocation as Santa Claus and St. Nicholas with a special skills set.

An accomplished storyteller, Jim can weave the North Pole into a magical and vivid tale of Christmas excitement. As a retired school teacher, he relates to children of all ages with a special insight that a former educator has.

Jim is an establishing leader of the North Carolina Friends of Santa Organization, which provides love, joy, and toys to children who have experienced a natural disaster within North Carolina.

He is also a member of the Ambassadors of Christmas Cheer, a ukulele group that performs from January to October each year at hospitals, nursing homes and senior centers.

As Santa, Jim has appeared at numerous private and corporate events and is a veteran shopping mall Santa. A devout Christian, Jim also portrays St. Nicholas at churches, schools and private events.

He often is called upon to speak at organizations about St. Nicholas and the history and legend of the Saint. Jim is also a graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan