Bob Flemming became Shady Brook Farm's Santa four years ago. Though he was at first reluctant to become Santa, he now looks at the job as his exit strategy. He's retiring in January, but he said he plans on being Santa forever.

His Santa transformation begins in August, he said, as he stops trimming his beard. From then on out, he shapes it to get it just so. The week after Christmas he shaves his beard and usually keeps it trimmed very short the rest of the year, "That's why I'm not one of those ZZ Top Santas," he said.

Santa Bob even gets spotted in the off season, like on vacation in Florida, which he describes in the video. Watch to find out what kids ask for, if any one is getting a lump of coal, if he scopes out other Santas for inspiration and much more.

Then visit Santa Bob, at Shady Brook Farm from 5 to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 12 - 10 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.