CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For the first time in what they hope to be an annual event, Harley Davidson of Corpus Christi hosted a 'Santa Ride' on Sunday. The event, which was originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed due to weather, was a ride around the city to bring holiday joy to children in the area.
“It’s just really exciting to do something in the community. Our dealership, we do a lot of events pre-COVID... Just being an active member of the community is something we find a lot of joy in,” said Harley Davidson marketing director Sarah Oakley.
The ride started at Harley Davidson on South Padre Island Dr. and went around the city, passing Evans Elementary, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House. Riders were dressed in holiday outfits and the role of Santa was played by Jared Suarez, who was upholding a family tradition.
“It means a lot. My dad, when he was alive, for many years he would play Santa at the churches, the schools, different events, and I wanted to carry on that family tradition. When Harley Davidson put this out, I was like, ‘hey this is great. I love motorcycles, I want to carry on the family tradition,’ and it just seemed like the right thing to do,” Suarez said.