December 13, 2022 | 7 pm @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The public is invited to take a trip down memory lane with Don Royston, who portrays jolly ole St. Nick aboard Appalachia's Santa Train. It's all part of the monthly Speaker Series event at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, to be held Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the museum's Performance Theater. The event also streams virtually for those who cannot be present.
"Mr. Royston will share the history of the Santa Train, along with memories and tales from his time as Santa over the years," says Head Curator Rene Rodgers. "With this Speaker Series event, we hope to illuminate the story of community and giving that is exemplified in this important and treasured Appalachian tradition."
The Santa Train made its 80th trip from Shelby Yard in Pikeville, Kentuckyto Kingsport, Tennesseeprior to Thanksgiving this year, making 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginiaand Tennessee, distributing more than 15 tons and $300,000 worth of clothing, food, candy, toysand gifts to thousands of people in the Appalachian region.
Royston has been actively involved in the Kingsport Chamber/CSX Transportation Santa Train, performing as Santa Claus since 1999. He also supports the Santa Train Scholarship Program.
Royston retired from being a full-time, practicing CPA in 2018 yet still retains his license. He serves a number of professional and community organizations including the Appalachian Chapter of TSCPA; the Tennessee Society of CPAs; Kingsport College Foundations, which serves as the advisory committee for ETSU at Kingsport; the Inventor Center of Kingsport; Kingsport Homeless Ministry, Inc.; Appalachian Miles for Smiles, Inc.and Kiwanis Club.
The museum's Speaker Series is free and open to the public; participants are asked to RSVP if they plan to attend in person or pre-register if joining the conversation online via Zoom.For more information, visit theEvents pageatBirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
Category: Lecture