By Jon Chown
Just like Superman and Lex Luthor, or Harry Potter and Voldemort — Santa Claus also has a nemesis named Krampus.
Two visitors stroll through the lights on Dec. 4.
Krampus is a figure from Central European folklore. On Krampusnacht, celebrated Dec. 5, the horned, demonic-looking creature accompanies Santa Claus to punish naughty children. They might be frightened, given a swat or even carried away in a basket. Despite all this, he has fans, and they gathered to see him at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on Dec. 4 for a special night at Sparky’s Holiday Lights.
The idea was spearheaded by a small circle inside the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, which holds the event to raise funds for the fairgrounds. Stephanie Fontana and Jennifer Lemon had visited a holiday market in San Jose three years ago and saw a Krampus. It got them talking to Michael Gaither, also a fan, and momentum was underway.
“We didn’t know exactly what we were going to do, but we were going to do something,” said Fontana.
“And we didn’t want it to be too creepy, because this is still a family event,” Lemon added.
Two Krampus creatures showed up to terrorize fans.
The Sparky’s Holiday Lights event at the fairgrounds runs until Dec. 24. It is the sixth year of the event after it was created during COVID as a way to bring the community together during a rough holiday season. Dave Kegebein, former CEO of the fairgrounds and a longtime leading volunteer, said he had wanted to create a holiday lights show for many years, and when the pandemic was in full force, the moment had arrived for it.
“I thought, ‘let’s try it,’ and it was successful because people couldn’t go out and do anything. And it’s been successful ever since,” he said.
The lights show is usually a drive-through event that winds through the fairgrounds. Krampus Night is one of a few nights when visitors can walk through the lighted displays.
Krampus Night was added to Sparky’s Holiday Lights schedule last year. Lemon said the idea was not entirely well received at first, but eventually the Krampus fans were welcomed in. Linda Erbe, chairperson of the Sparky’s Holiday Lights event, said the whole idea was confusing to some.
“We’re used to regular Christmas. This is a whole new thing for us,” Erbe said. “But everybody has a good time. It adds to the Holiday Lights.”
Erbe said the event is a challenge for volunteers each year, but it continually improves and grows because of the many helpers like John Eiskamp, Kevin Larkin and others.
“You don’t have to have a special skill to be able to help,” she said. “We have jobs for everybody at the Fairgrounds Foundation.”
Her husband, Bob Erbe, will help dismantle all the lights and put them back in storage.
“It’s a lot of fun putting them up. Taking them down is not something I look forward to,” he said.
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To learn more about the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, go online at fairgrounds-foundation.org.
TOP PHOTO: Michael Gaither (dressed as Krampus) and Cyndy Gaither were two of the first volunteers to push for the Krampus Night event at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.