Santa Scott's Resilient Return
Following a tragic fire that consumed his Auburn Road residence on October 25, Scott Diethorne, celebrated for over three decades as Santa, has made a heartwarming comeback this holiday season.
Diethorne, affectionately called Santa Scott, faced immense loss including the destruction of his home and the passing of his two dogs and pet parrot. Yet, determined to uphold the festive spirit, he has returned to his role, now wearing donated Santa attire at the Fairless Hills Garden Center.
"As long as the kids are happy, I'm happy," Diethorne remarked, reflecting his dedication to bringing joy to families.
Community Support Fuels Recovery
In the aftermath of the blaze, the Bucks County community rallied around Diethorne, his wife, and their nine children and grandchildren. Contributions poured in, including food, clothing, and over $139,000 in financial aid, helping the family secure a rental home as they plan to rebuild.
"We're getting by," Diethorne shared. "We're actually in a rental house now, so we'll be there until we tear down the old one and build a new one." He expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support, noting, "I don't think I deserved it all, but, you know, if it wasn't for them guys, I'd be further in the hole than I am."
Among the donations were new Santa suits, with one sent from a Santa in Texas, enabling Diethorne to continue his cherished tradition.
Families Flock for Annual Tradition
Nightly, families line up to visit Santa Scott, with queues often extending out the door. Madi Bidling Maier of Fairless Hills observed, "Some days out the door the whole time, for like three hours it'll go on. It will probably be like this the whole entire night until we close."
For many, these visits have become a yearly ritual. Kelly Stephenson of Bensalem explained, "Our dog is 10, he just turned 10, and we've been coming here since we got together and got the dog. Now, we have a seven-year-old, five-year-old, and an eight-month-old, and we come here every year for Christmas to see Santa Scott."
Diethorne finds solace in spreading cheer, stating, "Blocks out all the bad stuff, you know, keep me going. Seeing the smiles on their face is all I care about."
