Winter Fanta-Sea marked a changing of the guard of sorts for Santa Claus this year at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

For the first time in about five years, there was a new Santa in town, and the old one, Harry Buckman of Ocean Shores, had more than a hand in finding his replacement. Buckman, Santa at past Fanta-Seas and Kiwanis Kids Christmases among his many appearances, fully recruited and even helped supervise new St. Nick, Bruce Lundquist.

“I’m in training with Harry,” Lundquist chuckled with the same ruddy cheeks and bushy grayish-white beard that Santa has made his signature look over the years.

Buckman said he had wanted to retire mostly for health reasons and suggested that Lundquist might make a proper Santa himself. A few months before the start of the Christmas season, both men started growing beards, and Lundquist soon began to look the part. “The more his beard grew, the more he grew into Santa,” Harry exclaimed.

The same could be said for Buckman too. He once took over for longtime Santa Curly Haviland, who also was the original Captain Morgan for Captain Morgan Rum, said Cheryl Turner, Convention Center manager and formerly Mrs. Claus for Harry.

“Harry became an official Santa Claus when Curly passed away,” Turner said. “Before he passed away, Curly handed the official suit to Harry.”

Now, it’s being worn with a jolly spirit of reverence for the role by Lundquist.

“I miss it a little bit,” Buckman confided as he posed for a photo with Santa and one of his elves, Carolee Roe.

Santa is available for other appearances in the area. For more information, call Bruce at (206) 407-7687.

Santa Harry making a popular appearance at last year’s Kiwanis Kids Christmas.