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By Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Don Fisher has been the southwest Georgia Santa Claus for 33 years, an in-demand holiday fixture whose “real” self becomes secondary once a little frosty nip returns to the air.

His look is perfect, he’s great with kids, and parents become childlike themselves around Fisher, remembering the glee of a Santa experience from their childhood.

It should be no surprise then that Fisher developed a hobby over the years of collecting Christmas memorabilia.

“I’ve been Santa for 33 years, and over those years a lot of clients have given me (Christmas-related gifts),” Fisher said. “Others of these things came from grandmas’ attics and a lot of the older stuff from the ’50s came from estate sales.”

Fisher took a few brief moments Saturday to talk about his impressive collection, hundreds and hundreds of pieces — many of them rare — that he’s turned into quite the display. And being the Santa that he is, Fisher shares his Christmas treasures with southwest Georgia visitors to the Thronateeska Heritage Museum.

Fisher was on hand Saturday, talking and taking photos with kids, as Thronateeska debuted its 2018 Don Fisher Collection. While the kids sat in Santa’s lap, enthralled by the visit with the gift-bringing elf they’ve heard so much about, their moms and dads took in Fisher’s collection taking up every available bit of space in the museum.

“This really is amazing,” Phyllis Broome, Thronateeska’s goodwill ambassador/”Queen,” who greeted the dozens of guests who came into the attraction Saturday for the opening of the exhibit, said. “This is Don Fisher’s private collection, and he has a hand in (placing) every piece of it. If others want to donate something that they own to put on display, it has to go through him.

“This is something he takes a lot of pride in, and the community just loves it.”

Parents loved the fact that Fisher was on hand for Saturday’s opening and not only patiently talked with each child in attendance, he allowed moms and dads to take their own photos of the little ones.

“Most of the time when you take the kids to see Santa, you’re not allowed to take your own photos,” said Jamie Minett, who came to Thronateeska Saturday with husband Chase and their kids: Isabelle, 14, Parker, 7, and Evelyn, 3. “But I really appreciate that (Fisher) is allowing us to take our own photos. Plus, he’s the best Santa I’ve ever seen.”

Grandma buds Christine Bentley of Albany and Brenda Holbrook of Leesburg brought Hayden and Clayton Shealy, Hunter Rachel and Easton Bentley to Thronateeska, and the kids burned off their abundance of waiting-in-line energy by checking out the displays — Christmas and science — at Thronateeska.

“As you can see, the kids are excited,” Christine Bentley said. “This is really a good thing.”

One of Santa’s — and Thronateeska’s — elves, school teacher Patti Howell, who teaches high school science at Baconton Charter School, volunteers for events like the Christmas Collection exhibition opening. She was on hand Saturday to help visitors make picture frames with popsickle sticks.

“I just love doing this, love seeing the kids have a great time,” Howell said.

Mindy Crain of Leesburg brought 4-year-old daughter Sydney back to see Fisher and the Christmas Collection for her “second or third time,” but there was a new visitor this year as well. Six-month-old Henry got his first audience with Santa.

“This is such a great event,” mom Mindy said. “The kids love seeing Santa, and they just love being here with the other kids. This is one of the really good things in Albany.”

The Fisher collection will be on display through the holiday season. Check with Thronateeska officials for times and other details.