WRITER | MARY ROSE KULCZAK
PHOTOS | MIDLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Making Spirits Bright
The Santa House Brings Holiday Cheer
Winter 2025 Issue
The Santa House in Midland has been bringing holiday cheer to this Michigan community since its construction in 1987. Families flock to this charming Main Street spot to visit Santa and his elves, or take a ride on the Northern Star Train. The house opens its doors to the public with an official lighting ceremony on the first Tuesday of December, and free tours are available throughout the holiday season.
“The Midland Area Santa House is one of Midland’s most beloved traditions, a place that captures the spirit of the community as much as it celebrates the magic of the holiday season,” Kevin LaDuke, communications officer for the Midland Area Community Foundation, says. “Each year, it draws more than 10,000 visitors who come not only to see Santa, but also to experience a sense of wonder, connection and nostalgia that has become an integral part of Midland’s identity.”
In the past, a temporary structure had to be erected each holiday season. In 1986, architects Steve Barstow and Tom Valent from Gerace Construction created plans for a permanent structure that would blend with the nearby county courthouse. They consulted the Historical Commission, developing a design that would include fieldstone and a stucco exterior along with quaint Bavarian-style details. With elaborate eaves, shutters, windows and windowboxes, the house resembles a gingerbread creation.
The project was funded by the Midland Area Community Foundation and area donors. Upgrades and additions have been incorporated to the interior and exterior. Outside, a glockenspiel was added in 1997 thanks to a generous donation from Dow Chemical Company. Inside, visitors will find a fieldstone fireplace, a grandfather clock, and a carved chair for Santa to hear the children’s Christmas wish lists. Each year, new holiday displays reflect the magical spirit of the season.
“The Midland Area Santa House is not just a building,” LaDuke says. “It is a symbol of community pride, imagination and generosity. It exists because people believed in creating something beautiful together. The partnership between local contractors, donors and civic leaders back in 1987 was more than a construction project. It was a gift to future generations. That same spirit lives on today every time a child steps through its doors, eyes wide with wonder. The Santa House reminds us that the most magical things in life are the ones we create together.”
After the construction of the Santa House in 1987, Tom and Holly Valent acquired the C.W. Howard Santa Claus School, moving operations from Bay City to Midland. Valent had attended the school in 1975, and was eager to see the tradition continue. They began holding three-day seminars for would-be Santas every fall. Naturally, the house was the perfect setting for instilling holiday cheer.
Valent, a civil engineer by trade, also enjoys woodworking and toy-making, much like Santa and his elves. He works with volunteers to create all of the hand-carved displays and animations in the Santa House.
“This ongoing work ensures that every year feels new and magical for returning visitors,” LaDuke says.
Each year, local volunteers sign up to become Santa’s elves, greeting guests, taking photos of families with Santa, and helping groups make their way through the house’s exhibits.
The Santa House also offers special sensory-friendly days and will accommodate the needs of visitors when requested.
“It takes more than 225 volunteers each year to bring the Santa House to life,” LaDuke says. “They handle everything from greeting visitors and coordinating tours to helping with maintenance and decorating. These volunteers are the heart of the operation. Without them, the Santa House could not welcome the thousands of families who make it part of their holiday season. Their commitment shows what is possible when a community comes together around a shared sense of joy and purpose.”
LaDuke sees the Santa House as a place where memories are made and cherished for years to come.
“It is a space where families gather, where traditions are passed from one generation to the next, and where kindness and generosity shine. Children come to share their wishes with Santa, while parents and grandparents relive their own memories from years past,” he says.
“For those who have grown up visiting the Santa House, and for those discovering it for the first time, it remains a place where holiday dreams come alive and where the warmth of community shines brightest in the coldest months of the year.”
