Jim Manning has been the go to Santa Claus in Massachusetts for the last 16 years. With a focus on high-energy, interactive performance, “Santa Jim” performs for thousands of children every year. He has traveled to Ireland, Australia and Canada for international shows, and is a regular contributor for the City of Boston.

Manning’s journey to becoming the official Santa Claus for the City of Boston is not a traditional one. After college, Jim served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, which led to the opportunity to teach English in South Korea. His day-to-day work had him at an impasse, with no formal teacher training and a classroom full of children who barely spoke his own language. Then came the entertainment.

In addition to his work as an educational entertainer, Manning has spent the last decade as the official Santa Claus of the City of Boston’s Annual Tree Lighting. He makes over 50 appearances each year as St. Nick, and counts the Boston Red Sox, MIT, Pepsi, and thousands of delighted children among his loyal clientele. Santa Jim has been featured on The Today Show, MSNBC, Vice TV, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

Manning was born and raised in Westchester County, NY. He graduated with a combined English/Theatre Major from Geneseo State University. He has lived in the Boston area for nearly twenty years with his wife Sonya.