Community. Generosity. Inspiration.

What started as a passing thought during COVID has become a longstanding tradition for Tara. When the world needed positivity and hope the most, Tara felt inspired to create her own way to connect with her community. Putting on a Santa suit and skating on her rollerblades through town with a big red bag on her back filled with toys and surprises for the underserved communities downtown and unsuspecting children, she brought serendipitous joy to so many more than just those immediately receiving her gifts. Today, she raises funds to create gift bags filled with necessities and little gifts to share with the homeless community in Downtown Austin, inviting her skating friends along to join her, them too dressed for the occasion.

Expanding upon her grassroots connection with her beloved community, she decided to take it a step further and host a toy drive to benefit SAMMinistries in San Antonio, serving families experiencing or facing homelessness. She even partnered with local favorite, Cherrity Bar, to host her own give-back through an in-person dining experience and toy drive. Throughout the years, she has donated hundreds of new toys to this nonprofit and continues to today.

2026 will be her sixth year hosting Santa Bladin', and looks forward to continuing to spread the love and best kind of surprises to those least expecting it.

Special thank you to Cydney Soignet Toudouze with Soignet Studios for her beautiful photography skills she's contributed to Santa Bladin'. An additional special thank you to Kyrsten Hansen for her brilliant logo design of Santa Bladin'.