Santa Claus Reunion Comes to Raging Rivers | Our Daily Show Interview
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
GRAFTON - Families can stop by Raging Rivers for Christmas in July and the Santa Claus family reunion.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Raging Rivers will host a Christmas in July event complete with a foam party, photo ops and a special Santa-themed dessert. Nearly 200 of Santa’s family members have been invited. Santa’s cousin, Steve Pegram, who operates Got Faith? in Jerseyville, helped organize the event and looks forward to engaging with the kids and families.
“It’s six months before Christmas,” Pegram said. “It gets you in the mood for it.”
Pegram regularly visits with kids during the holiday season as Santa’s cousin. He is eager to share this experience at Raging Rivers with his friends through the Gateway Santas organization. He has invited 193 “professional Santas” to join him at Raging Rivers on Saturday, and he joked that Santa’s family comes “in all shapes and sizes.”
Jessie with Raging Rivers added that the waterpark is happy to welcome the Claus family and other Riverbend families for a fun, Christmas-themed day. She is especially excited to introduce The Strawberry Snowball dessert — funnel cake bites, soft-serve ice cream and a layer of strawberries on top — for one day only.
Raging Rivers hosts a foam party at 2 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This weekend is no different, and Jessie looks forward to dancing in the foam with the families and Santa’s cousins.
“We’re excited,” she said. “I’m excited to meet all of his brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews.”
Looking ahead, Raging Rivers hopes to open its new RV park by Aug. 1. They also plan to build a new family ride in the coming months. They recently introduced mini golf and an amphitheater at the park.
Pegram shared that the amphitheater will be used at 8 a.m. on Aug. 15 for a concert by Tim Ezell at the 500 Man and Woman Breakfast hosted by Got Faith? at Raging Rivers. This event includes a free breakfast for everyone who attends. If you wear a Got Faith? t-shirt, you will receive a $10 discount on your Raging Rivers tickets.
Got Faith? will also host their annual Cans for Cars Crusade at Sinclair’s Food Market in Jerseyville from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 1. You can vote for your favorite car by donating a can of food to Diane Stumpe’s Food Pantry at Got Faith? in Jerseyville. There will also be free food available to attendees.
Got Faith?, located at 508 W. Pine Street in Jerseyville, offers a food pantry, clothes closet, hygiene products, and more to community members in need. In addition to being Santa’s cousin, Pegram founded Got Faith? to spread a message of hope and love.
He is excited to share this message at Raging Rivers as Santa on July 25. Pegram and Jessie encourage families to get their tickets to Christmas in July today.
For more information about Raging Rivers WaterPark, including upcoming events and how to buy tickets, visit their official website. To learn more about Got Faith?, their mission, and how to give or receive assistance, check out their official website.
More like this:
