PHOTOS: Christmas season in Santa Claus, Georgia

AJC Photo Galleries

PHOTOS: Christmas season in Santa Claus, Georgia

Woodrow "Willy" Smith, who plays Santa, interacts with Elijah and Ena Sells during the Christmas dinner that is free to all the residents and family members of Santa Claus.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Woodrow "Willy" Smith enters the community center during a Christmas dinner for the residents of Santa Claus, and Smith participates in the same community as Santa during a Christmas tree lighting in November.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Woodrow "Willy" Smith, who plays Santa, speaks to Kyron Ross, asking what he wants for Christmas during the Christmas dinner that is free to all the residents and family members of Santa Claus.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Alayna Jernigan walks around an inflatable Christmas decoration as her grandparents, Renee and Walter Wright, try to take a photo at one of the intersections decorated with candy cane stripes in the town of Santa Claus.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Santa Claus City council member Renee Wright tries to take a photo of her granddaughter Alayna Jernigan as her husband, Walter Wright, looks at one of the intersections decorated with candy cane stripes and inflatable decorations.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

City manager Eddie Wright gets a meal together with his wife, Elaine Wright, during a sit-down Christmas dinner that's free to the community's 204 residents.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Residents of the town of Santa Claus use light vehicles such as golf carts and motorcycles to go shopping at the only two commercial businesses that the city has, a mini-mart and Dollar General.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Santa Claus City mayor Donita Bowens works putting together a nativity scene located inside Santa’s garden in front of the chapel.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Santa Claus City mayor Donita Bowens walks inside the gift shop that opens to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can find t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items with the city's name. In addition, inside the building is a small museum with photographs of the town's history.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Santa Claus City mayor Donita Bowens works on a new photo board that the city installed for the visitors and residents to take photos.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

One of the most notorious traditions of the town is the mailbox, the city processes around 4,000 stamps a year.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Beverly Youmans interacts with her grandsons, Samuel and Naomi Youmans, during a Christmas dinner at the Santa Claus community center.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

The City of Santa Claus's only visible building is the City Hall, the 204-resident town located 3 hours southeast of Atlanta. The Santa Claus City Hall, located at 25 December Street, stays decorated during Christmas and the inside all year.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Another visible building is the welcome center of Santa Claus which opens to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can find t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items with the city's name. In addition, inside the building is a small museum with photographs of the town's history.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

One thing that identifies the nine streets that make up the town of Santa Claus is the Christmas symbols and names of the streets.
Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

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Woodrow "Willy" Smith, who plays Santa, interacts with Elijah and Ena Sells during the Christmas dinner that is free to all the residents and family members of Santa Claus. Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

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