Kris Kringle and Mrs. Kringle offer "visits with Santa" at their workshop in the Bonney Lake, Buckley, and Enumclaw area of western Washington, or at community gatherings in western Washington. This free visit is offered in the spirit of the season. If you and your child are in Buckley, Sumner, Enumclaw, or the South Prairie area, a visit to Kris Kringle is only a short drive away. We specialize in children with exceptional needs, timid or very young children, pets, and whole families.
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RSVP for a free "Santa Visit" with the Kringles in the Sumner, Bonney Lake, Buckely, Enumclaw area. November 28 and 29, December 12 and 13, 2026.
About Us
Kristoffandkelly.kringle@gmail.com
We are located in Western Washington in Bonney Lake.
Kristoff is a high school Special Education teacher. Kelly works at a middle school as well.
Here is the 2026 invitation that will go out on November 1st physically and in local social media venues. This is to promote our in person Workshop dates.
Donations
Donations
The list below is some suggestions for donations. This is not an exhaustive list. You may always contact us to discuss other types of events. No donations will go to or through the Kringle's. Please use the links below to donate directly to the organization of your choice.
If you would like to donate to the Kringles please scan the Venmo link to the right.
Please consider donating what you can to one of the causes listed below.
Photos and other information
Here are photos of Kris and Kelly meeting with families.
On Christmas Day after the presents are delivered, I shave and let it grow back. This is symbolic of the demise of one year and the birth of the new one. This is similar to old traditions of Pelsnikle or Belsnikle a germanic tradition representing the cycle of the seasons as not a continuous loop but the ending or death of one year and the resurrection of life in the new year. In this way, Kris's beard represents the progress of the year towards it's culmination. This photo gallery will show the progress.
Our Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy
We want to help spread the joy and wonder of the holidays to families. We honor all beliefs and respect all cultures. We do not promote any agenda other than spreading the spirit of the holidays. We do not charge a fee to bring Kristoff and Kelly Kringle to your event or to have you attend our workshop. We provide opportunities to donate to a charity of your choice. We provide some suggested donation prices and charities. At no time will the Kringles receive any money or have it go through them.
The Kringles do not promise to deliver any items requested by a child, nor do they comment on if a child has been naughty or nice. All children are on our nice list. No person will be seated on a Kringle’s lap at any time. Photos will be taken by the visitor's family members. The Kringles do have an elf who is available to help with pictures. The Kringles will not maintain photos of children without the parent or guardian's permission. Our topmost concern is the safety and wellbeing of the child.
Mission Statement:
To preserve and foster joy, hope, and giving during the holiday season in our community.
The Sleigh
The Sleigh
The Sleigh
Santa or Kris's sleigh is pulled by reindeer instead of the traditional horses. This dates back to Nordic origins of Odin and the great hunt across the sky. Similarly the spirit of Santa or Kris is associated with the earth and the creatures of the forest. His love of the animals makes it possible for them to help him travel the world quickly in his sleigh.
The Workshop
The workshop is a magical place that can appear in the most unlikely of places, say a garage. This workshop has much to see in and of itself. There is a 6 ft. Nutcracker standing guard, giant presents, a workbench with presents in progress, Kris’s sketchbook with a nutcracker that salutes. Mrs. Kringle just pulled out a nice batch of gingerbread cookies; you can smell them as they cool. If you look at Mrs. Kringle’s cookbook, you can see that it adds spices to the mix. There is even a mixing bowl mixing a batch of cookies on its own. Look there, a raven delivering the latest letter.
The spirit of Christmas goes by many names.
The midwinter holiday gift giver appears in many forms, a man, a woman, child, a goat, and several other creatures. Here is a partial list of the names by which this holiday spirit goes by. Below are a listing of various names that this personification is known by. No matter which name you use the essence of the midwinter gift giver is the same. The midwinter holidays have existed long before Christianity. The holiday season extended from what Americans know as Thanksgiving through to Twelth Night activities in the begining of January. Ceremonies, rituals and festivals were held in honor of a successful harvest, the ending of the year and the birth of a new year. Various cultures attributed their survival to their gods, such as Odin, Thor, and Brechta, in the Germanic regions, and Saturn in the Roman regions. Often these dieties were known to travel through the air in sleighs or chariots pulled by a variety of creatures. Odin rode on a eight legged horse, while Brechta rode on a broom. They would fly down the chimneys of homes to inspect if the children had behaved and if the home was tidy and orderly. These dieties would leave gifts of fruits and nuts to those that behaved and switches for those that had not. As the Christian Faith grew, missionaries under the direction of Pope Gregory the Great (601 AD) began to replace existing celebrations with their own saints days and other Christian festivals. The replacement of the Pegan holidays made it easier to convert societies, since they did not have to sacrifice their existing traditions. The spirit of the midwinter gift giver survived this replacement process and took on many names through out the western world based on the traditions and cultures of each regions. Santa Claus as most know him now, is an American amalgamation of these regional personifications. Thanks to Washington Irving, C. Clement Moore, Thomas Nash, Norman Rockwell, and others, Santa Claus as we know him formed and spread due to the popularity of publications like Harpers and the Saturday Evening Post.
Male
Saint Nicholas
Father Christmas
Kriss Kringle
Sinterklaas
Babbo Natale
Kerstman
Grandfather Frost
Pére Nöel
Papai Noel
Papá Noel
Pai Natal
Baba Noel
Pelznickel
Belsnickle
Aschenklas
Ru-klas
Weihnachtsmann
Ded Moroz
Knecht Ruprecht
Svaty Mikalas
Veijo Pasuero
Dun Llao Che Ren
Old Man Christmas
Uncle Chimney
Mos Nicolae
Mos Cracium
Daidi na Nollag
Mikulás
Mikolaj
Olentzero
Samichlaus
Hoteiosho
Female
Christkindl
Brechta
Babushka
La Befana
Kolyada
Snegurochka
Tante Arie
Vieja Belen
St. Lucia
Child
Christkindl
El Nino
Gesu Bambino
Le Petit Noel
Elf
St. Nick
Julenisse
Jultomten
Santa Claus
Animal
Julbock
The Yule Goat
The Gentle Camel of Jesus
Groups
Las Tres Reyes Magos
The Three Wise Men
The Three Kings
The Icelandic Yule Lads
Spoonlicker Þvörusleikir
Pot-Scraper Pottaskefill
Sausage-Swiper Bjúgnakrækir
Window-Peeper Gluggagægir
Door-Slammer Hurðaskellir
Doorway-Sniffer Gáttaþefur
Meat Hook Ketkrókur
Sheep-Cote Clod Stekkjastaur
Gully Gawk Giljagaur
Stubby Stúfur
Skyr Gobbler Skyrgámur
Candle-Stealer Kertasníkir
Why I chose to go by Kris Kringle
When I began the journey or process that culminated in this project, I wanted a secular figure. Not someone tied to a particular religion. I wanted an old world appearance rather than a modern image. I wanted something separate from the common mythology that families inevitably share with their decendants. This was because I did not, do not, want to create confusion when families meet me. Most families view Santa as a modern figure with a short fur lined coat of red with matching pants, a big black belt with a gold or brass buckle and shiny black boots. This is not the image that I want to convey. To me the spirit of the gift giver is ambiguous, anonomous, someone that does what they do for the good it will bring, not the fame or glory. To me Kris Kringle is a quiet unassuming backwoodsman. He spreads hope and joy without intentionally drawing attention to himself. With that said, his coat is covered in bells, to ring out the hope and joy he spreads. He is a kindly old man, a little jolly, but not overly so. As C. Clement Moore noted, "With a nod of his head he went straight to his work " (Moore, 1823). My suit is dark red and green, to appear less like a uniform and more like someone's clothing. If you look closely, when you visit with me, there are Nordic runes stitched into the jacket sleeves representing, Hope, Charity, Love, and Kindness. His clothes are well worn and are patched in places, as would be expected of someone that lived in the woods. My buckles are simple, not ornate, and are made of brass and iron.
How to talk to children about Santa
ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS WHO NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA 🎅
Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."
Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it.
Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now.
So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"
Brief pause...
Son: "Yes, I want to know"
Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus"
Son: "Really?"
Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand.
The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea.
Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years.
I actually bought those myself.
I watched you open them.
And did it bother me that you didn't thank me?
Of course not!
In fact it gave me great pleasure.
You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.
When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance.
I was being Santa Claus when I did that."
Son: "Oh."
Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"
Help each other this Christmas🎄🎅 and...be kind ❤💕
Where to find us
Where to find us
November 28, November 30, 2026 - Kringle Workshop - Bonney Lake, Wa
December 5 and 6, 2026 - Luther Burbank Home and Gardens - Santa Rosa, Ca
December 12 and 13, 2026 - Kringle Workshop - Bonney Lake, Wa.
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