Santa returns to Philbrook Festival Nights once again for 2024.
Details of this year's festival are yet to be posted, but we expect that, just like last year, Santa's House will be at the south end of Philbrook's South Formal Garden. You'll be able to say hi to Santa and get a photo with him. Santa will be available from 6:00 to 8:30 on Festival Nights. After stopping to see Santa, you can view the special light show in the east garden, buy a cup of hot cocoa or a snack, and do a make-it-and-take-it craft project.
Festival Nights are special ticketed events outdoors throughout the gardens. Please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes. Everyone (including Philbrook members) must book in advance online for a timed-entry ticket; last entry is 8:30 pm each evening. Booking is not available yet, but when it does go online book early, as tickets go fast.
Santa David has seven Philbrook visits scheduled during this year's Festival:
- Friday, Nov 29th
- Friday, Dec 6th
- Saturday, Dec 7th
- Friday, Dec 13th
- Wednesday, Dec 18th
- Saturday, Dec 21st
- Sunday, Dec 22nd
Santa David Bates is a real-bearded Santa, a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, and 2024 is his 20th Christmas season as a Santa.
David is a lifelong Oklahoman and has been a Tulsan since 1969. He is retired from Saint Francis Health System and previously worked for the Cities Service Companies. He is married and has two children and five grandchildren. He is an active member of First Baptist Church in Tulsa.
His 2024 season will include several appearances at Philbrook's Festival Nights, as well as homeowners' association parties, local businesses, and other events. To book Santa David for your 2024 event, send an elf mail to Santa_Tulsa@yahoo.com
You can learn more about Santa from this 2010 Tulsa World feature story about Philbrook's Santa and the accompanying Q&A, this 2008 Urban Tulsa Weekly profile of Santa David Bates, a 2013 profile in Tulsa People, this 2014 Tulsa World story on grooming bushy beards, a 2015 Tulsa World interview by Scott Cherry, and in this tribute column by his son, Michael Bates.
Please visit and like Santa David on Facebook, too!
