Christmas Magic: Four OBX Santas (and the Grinch who crashed the party)

Barry Holt – Santa of the OBX. (Courtesy photo)

By Brian Tress | Outer Banks Voice

You don’t have to look hard to find Santa on the Outer Banks in December — in fact, you’re likely to run into several of them. From Wanchese to Corolla to holiday markets and bar crawls, a small cast of locals steps into the red suit each year, each with their own style, backstory, and approach to the role. And this year, there’s even a Grinch in the mix.

Barry Holt

Barry Holt — otherwise known as Santa of the Outer Banks — remembers the day he became Santa Claus 35 years ago. “The children’s director at my church in Wilmington said he couldn’t afford the going rate for Santas, so I bought my own suit and did it for free,” he rec

See Full Page