Our very own secret Santa

To the world he’s Santa Claus, but those who know him best call him Bill Kinnebrew.

Kinnebrew is one of Santa’s helpers, meaning he dresses up around the holidays to help out the big guy at the North Pole. And when he’s not helping Santa, Kinnebrew works on the Shelby County Planning Commission and builds houses with Homes by Indianwood, Inc.

A few years ago, even though his beard was a lot shorter, he would still get recognized as Santa Claus.

“For several years before this started, probably half a dozen years, we’d just be out somewhere,” he said. “It would just happen two or three times a season, someone would say something about Santa.”

Christmas has always been a fun holiday to celebrate, he said, because it’s also his birthday, his mother’s birthday and his younger brother’s birthday.

“Christmas was always gigantic around our house,” he said.

But it wasn’t until five years ago when he was at dinner with his wife, Laurie Kinnebrew — also a helper to Mrs. Claus — that he decided to start making appearances as Santa Claus.

“We just made him a suit and put him out in the world, and he liked it,” she said. “We didn’t know what we were doing when we started this.”

Now that his beard is a little longer, he is recognized even more. As the holidays get closer, more and more people will ask him to take photos around town.

“Most of the pictures I get are at gas stations,” he said. “I won’t even stop to get gas if there’s a lot of people there if I have to go somewhere.”

Even though being recognized means daily tasks take a little longer, some fun stories come out of it. One of his favorites is about a time he got to perform with Rick Carter from the band Telluride. Over the years, he became friends with Carter, who does weekly performances at a local church.

“He goes every week of the year and does sing-alongs, and he picks up his phone [to show a picture] and says, ‘I’ve got this guy who said he’s going to come along and sing with us,” Kinnebrew said. “He’s going to do Jingle Bells with us.”

The woman Carter was talking to was an old family friend and said, “Sure, I know Bill Kinnebrew,” taking Carter by surprise.

Another time he was recognized at a University of Alabama football game.

“Bill and his mother were walking [in Tuscaloosa] and he hears this little girl say, ‘Mommy, even Santa Claus likes Alabama,” Laurie said.

As Santa, he does a little bit of everything. Sometimes he’ll stop by people’s houses before Christmas to chat and take a few photos. Other times he will meet with large groups of families to take photos.

Over the years, he said, he has learned a lot about taking photos and getting the best shot with Santa. He said he encourages families to take their time rather than rushing their children during photos. When kids are given time to walk around, it is sometimes easier for them to approach Santa. Older siblings can also set an example for younger siblings.

“If they’re doing family pictures, if they will let all the big kids that want to kid around with me, if you’ll let them do it, all the little ones are like, ‘Oh, I want to do that,’” he said.

Laurie also helps out during photos because kids don’t always recognize her. Sometimes this means Santa can sneak in for a photo while she’s talking to a child.

Most of his weekends are occupied as one of Santa’s helpers, but each year a few opportunities and visits will stick out.

“Every year, you’ll have a lot of kids, and they’re all fun,” Laurie said. “… But every year, we’ll have one that really just captures your heart.”

One year, they were able to visit a little girl on her one and only Christmas. She was born with a genetic disease and her parents knew she wouldn’t live for more than a year. Santa went to visit the little girl so her parents could preserve the memories.

“That was a very special trip,” she said. “They wanted to do everything they could. They knew she was not going to survive.”

Kinnebrew has also visited hospitals and doctors offices around Christmas time. One year, he met a little boy recovering from severe burns at Children’s of Alabama. The boy was riding around the hospital in a little red wagon, and his demeanor stuck out.

“He was just so happy,” he said.

He will also visit youth groups at churches around the holidays and open the floor to questions. 

“That is the most fun to get up in front of 300 or 400 people, and you’re his … strike man,” he said. “He’s always got this story, and they scare you to death about what he’s going to talk about.”

Sometimes it’s intimidating, he said, because there is no way to know what questions people will ask. Other times, some of the audience members will help answer their peers’ questions.

“[One time] one little boy looked up and said, ‘Santa Claus, where’s your reindeer?’ And another little kid went, ‘Dummy, they’re on the roof,’” Laurie said.

This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the Chelsea Christmas Parade on Dec. 19. For more information on him, visit Santa Claus – Birmingham, Al on Facebook.