Parading Past Santa

Traffic parades by Santa on Monroe St. 12/14/25 dwm

 The tradition started in 2023, when two neighbors decided to place 12-foot tall Santas in their front yard. 

Monroe Street stretches from the University of Wisconsin campus past Edgewood College and a mix of small businesses and nice homes.

Since that first year, neighbors decided to join in, creating an impressive line of a dozen St. Nicks' waving candy canes at passing cars and pedestrians. 

Three more Santas across from Edgewood's athletic field. 12/14/25 dwm

Now you can see giant figures of Santa Clause in yards; standing on apartment balconies, in front of stores, or staring outside from behind closed glass donors.

One house, which has its backyard facing Monroe Street, has Santa fenced in so he can't socialize with the other jolly elves.

A right jolly old elf on Monroe St. in Madison. 12/ 14/2025 dwm

When we drove around the block to reverse our course, we saw more Santas, however, most of these Fathers of Christmas were smaller in stature.

Monroe street is a busy road, so there aren't many places to pull over and take pictures, I pulled into one of Edgewood College's parking lots and pulled on to a side street to get these.

There is some diversity among the long line of Clauses, but Santas of all colors are equally good at sharing good cheer.

He was dressed all in fur

From his head to his foot;

And his clothes were all tarnished

With ashes and soot;

 

A bundle of toys 

He had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler

Just opening his pack;

 

His eyes how they twinkled!

His dimples how merry,

His cheeks were like roses,

His nose like a cherry;

 

His droll little mouth

Was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin

Was as white as the snow! 

 

Verses from The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore  

12/14/2025   Photo by david w mossner