Mickey Garrison Is A Picture-Perfect Santa

Photo by Hillary Odom

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Santa looks a lot like Mickey. Or Mickey looks a lot like him. Believe it or not, Mickey, an award-winning photographer in West Columbia, has been dressing up like “The Big Guy” for 30 years. As Old Kris Kringle, he’s surprised children at birthday parties, schools, parades, and during photo shoot sessions for other photographers and at his own studio, G Studios in Cayce. Mickey’s costume is authentic; his dark crimson velvet suit was tailor-made and, a few years ago, his beard miraculously lightened and is as white as snow. “Kids’ eyes get so big when they see me,” he says. “Whether I’m dressed up or not, they think I’m Santa.” And is he? “It’s as you believe,” he says.

What he likes about reading skirt!: “The graphics.”

And wearing a skirt: “It’s just fun!”
 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. There was an 8 mm camera running at every family event when Mickey was a young boy.

2. Mickey, a music major, wants to learn to play the bagpipes "before he's too old."

3. Though Mickey has been decorated with many awards, he says that the best thing he has accomplished is 40 years of marriage.