Santa House Built By Joppatowne Artist Sparks 3-Day Event

JOPPATOWNE, MD — Teresa Stepp was determined not to let coronavirus ruin the holidays.

“I have a three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, and I couldn’t imagine canceling Christmas,” said Stepp, who lives in Joppatowne.

That idea grew into a three-day event for local children and families to see Santa.

“I happen to live next door to Santa Claus,” Stepp told Patch.

She recalled how Rich Bennett, her neighbor who is Santa at Richardson Farms in Perry Hall, was having a conversation with her about how coronavirus had changed some of his holiday plans.

“I looked over in my yard and said, ‘Well, Santa, I have a corner lot,’” Stepp said. “How about we do something for the kids?”

They put together an event where children could see Santa in his workshop Dec. 13, 19 and 20.

Her husband gave her his blessing as long as she did not spend any money.

A home improvement professional and his wife donated all the materials, she said.

“I had a friend donate the time, so he built it,” Stepp said of the gazebo-like structure that now sits at the corner of her property. “Then somebody offered to buy candy canes, then the contractor donated hot chocolate.”

Children who visited received gifts that Stepp gave out from a Santa sack, with items ranging from those bought at the dollar store up to gifts valued at $20, she said.

There were also pet treats for people who bring their dogs to see Santa.

“Santa will be gloved; Santa will be masked,” she said. “You can drive by and not get out of your car, [or] you can get out of your car [and] get a hot chocolate.”

If visitors wanted to donate, they could bring nonperishable goods for the Joppatowne Christian Church.

Through the Santa House, she said, those involved adopted a family in Joppatowne and raised $500 in gift cards for nonprofits.

Volunteer elves helped with crowd control for the event, which Stepp said grew to include dozens of charities and hundreds of gifts.

“If it’s successful, I’m going to have to revisit this next year,” Stepp said.

Santa was at Kris Kringle's Christmas House, weather permitting, at 227 Kershaw Ct., Joppa, MD 21085, to greet children 4–7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13; Saturday, Dec. 19; and Sunday, Dec. 20.