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Dancing Santas return for 12th annual Christmas Eve celebration

The Wagner family dresses up in Santa suits and dance on the roof of their Phoenix home every Christmas Eve.

PHOENIX — The Dancing Santas returned for the annual Moon Valley Christmas Eve celebration on Sunday night.

For the past 12 years, the Wagner family has dressed up in Santa suits and danced on the roof of their home near 7th Street and Thunderbird Road.

"One year we dared my brother, the youngest brother, to get on the mailbox and dance and just kind of wave to people, and a kid rolled down the window and said, 'Santa!' and we just laughed," Bryan Wagner said.

The joke became tradition as other siblings and now aunts, uncles, and cousins joined in on the fun. 

This year 18 Santas made an appearance. 

“My own kids, they’ll be out here as little elves dancing," Christina Wagner said. "It’s such a fun family tradition that it’s just kind of a legacy now.”

Nearly the entire Moon Valley neighborhood decorates for the holidays.

People from across Arizona attend the celebration.

“To remember what it was like to see the specialness and to actually contribute to it, because that’s really what it’s about is seeing the kids reactions light up," Bryan Wagner said.

The Wagners told 12News the reactions is what keeps the performance going year after year.

“Anytime you can spread Christmas joy I think it’s a blessing so we’re just proud to bring joy to the community," Christina Wagner said.

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