Nothing I have done in my lifetime has been more satisfying than being invited to a Christmas or Holiday event be it corporate, family, daycare, Santa breakfast or photo shoot. I will certainly miss all of the parties I have attended.”

Gary Spooner

Local Cottage Grove Santa Gary Spooner is retiring.
Shared on Facebook and in an email letter from the Cottage Grove Area Chamber to members Oct. 14, Spooner laid out the reasons for his retirement:
“This letter is to announce my retirement as a Santa performer,” Spooner wrote. “I have been a professional Santa for 55 years and due to some health issues, I have to give up a career that I have enjoyed for all those years.
“For those who have contacted me for an appearance this coming Christmas Season, email or call me and I will find a replacement. My son-in-law, Eric Williams, is also an insured professional Santa and may have openings in his schedule.
“Nothing I have done in my lifetime has been more satisfying than being invited to a Christmas or Holiday event be it corporate, family, daycare, Santa breakfast or photo shoot. I will certainly miss all of the parties I have attended.
“I have been given a gift of white hair and beard at an early age and took the opportunity to have fun that has given me years of enjoyment. I was lucky enough to appear in two movies and numerous television newscasts and programs. Having thousands of little children on my lap asking for gifts for themselves, siblings and other members of their families is something that will warm my heart till the day I die. I feel I got more out of it than I had ever given.
“I will share some of the stories during the Holiday Season, via email or Facebook.
I truly THANK YOU ALL, for all you have done for me and accepted my desire to entertain and make the Christmas/Holiday Season more enjoyable. I only wish I had a copy of all the pictures that were taken over the past 55 years.
“Love to all of you and MERRY CHRISTMAS,
“Santa Spoons (AKA Gary Spooner)”

The Cottage Grove Chamber Board of Directors responded to the announcement with praise of Spooner as an inspiration for his years of dedication.
“Santa Gary, you are an inspiration to all who know you!” it said. “Thank you for your years of dedication to your profession, this Chamber and our communities!”
A brief review highlights Spooner’s background and many accomplishments.
Born March 18, 1939, Spooner attended the Baker grade school in St. Paul, graduating from Murray High School and attending Hamline University as well as the University of Minnesota for three years, majoring in business.
A supermarket manager from 1958 to 1967, Spooner married wife Judy on Sept. 9, 1961, moving to Cottage Grove three days later. He has two daughters, Margie and Laura.
His first experience as Santa came in 1970, at the Grant City Discount Store in Cottage Grove.
“I have been Santa in the Cottage Grove area since 1970,” Spooner said. “My real start as Santa was at Grant City in 1972. I owned the Bulletin Newspapers at the time and the store was my biggest advertiser. The manager said he had a Santa suit, wig and beard but no Santa. I told him I had the stomach for the job and I would appear for two weekends.”
From there it snowballed, with Spooner ultimately appearing as Santa Claus for the Cottage Grove Lions and Woodbury Rotary ‘Breakfast with Santa’ for 27 years. He is a member of the member of the Minnesota North Star Real Bearded Santas, International Order of Real Bearded Santas, and Direct Decedents of Santa Claus.”
In addition to being the local Santa for several years, Spooner published the Washington County Bulletin from the 1970s to 1994, taking over the Bulletin from John Currell and partnering with John Herman for a while before buying Herman out in 1983. Spooner expanded to add the Woodbury Bulletin in the 1980s before selling to the Red Wing Republican-Eagle in 1994. Other business ventures have included Bulletin Office Supply and Stationery from 1971-1994, Bulletin License Center from 1975 - 2014, and Spooner’s Custom Golf Clubs from 1985-2000.
Over the years Spooner has also been involved in many community and professional organizations, including as a founding member of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce in 1971 (later president), charter member of the Cottage Grove Lions Club in 1972, Cottage Grove Jaycees member (1967 – 1974), first president of the River Oaks Golf Club Men’s Club (1990 – 1992) Clifton Highland Golf Club (1984) and Mississippi Dunes Golf Links (1996 – 1998), He has served as an advocate for the American Indian prisoners at Stillwater Prison (1975-1979), charter member and later president of the Rotary Club of Woodbury (still active), vice president of the Minnesota Epilepsy League (1970 – 1975), and member of the Governors Committee on the Handicapped (1975 – 1976).
Spooner has served both as president and on the board of directors for the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, as president and a board member of the 916 Education Foundation, and as committee chair of the 916 Education Foundation Annual Golf Tournament from 1987 to 2013, collecting over $500,000 for the Foundation.
He has been the recipient of many awards, including as 2001 Board Member of Distinction for the 916 Education Foundation, City of Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Presidents Award for Community Service, and Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award for 2023. Spooner also started annual golf tournaments in 1990 for the Washington County Youth Service Bureau and Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce for the benefit of the community’s youth, also serving on the Minnesota Deputy Registrar’s Board. Most recently he was named 2025 Historic Preservationist of the Year by the City of Cottage Grove for his years recording local history via the Bulletin.
Still, the greatest time of his life has been as Santa.
“As I stated in my letter, this has been the greatest time of my life,” Spooner said recently. “And I will be sending out some of the experiences I have had over the years.”
Now officially retired from his role as Santa, Spooner leaves a void to fill in Cottage Grove. His advice to the next Santa?
“Be friendly and loving,” he said. “Don’t scare the kids and develop an act that will entertain everybody.”