If you’ve ever driven through Glen Oaks on a December evening, chances are you’ve spotted a familiar flash of red on a front porch and maybe even heard a jolly “Ho, ho, ho!” echo through the air. That’s Ron Wibbels, our very own neighborhood Santa, waving to cars, greeting families, and spreading holiday cheer right from his porch.

This joyful tradition began seven years ago, in the simplest way possible. “I purchased a suit on Amazon,” Ron recalls, “and decided one Friday night to sit on the front porch and wave at cars.” What started as a spur-of-the-moment idea quickly became a community favorite and a highlight of the Glen Oaks holiday season.

Every December since, Ron dons his red suit, trims his beard, and settles into his Santa chair to greet whoever happens to pass by. “I do it to create memories for the people who stop,” he says. And those memories stick. Kids light up when Santa somehow knows their names, and parents capture the moment with photos that become family keepsakes.

Over the years, Ron’s porch has welcomed quite the variety of visitors, “buses, basketball teams, delivery drivers, even pets,” he says with a grin. One unforgettable night, the WLKY news helicopter even caught a glimpse of him and featured his cheerful display during the weather segment.

For many families, seeing Santa Ron has become an annual ritual and something to look forward to as soon as the first lights go up. “It’s become a tradition,” Ron says proudly. “Several families can’t wait for him to appear. I enjoy bringing a little cheer to our great neighborhood.”

In a season filled with hustle and bustle, Ron Wibbels reminds us what makes Glen Oaks special: neighbors who care, traditions that bring us together, and simple acts of kindness that shine the brightest of all.