When will Santa make the rounds on your block? We’ve got some details on the annual tradition from the local fire companies.
By Matt Skoufalos
December can be a confusing time of the year to hear fire sirens.
In many neighborhoods, it’s often not a cause for alarm, but the sound of good-willed volunteers bringing a bit of holiday cheer to local residents (and usually some sweets for kids, too).
A charming tradition that has been historically upheld by the local fire departments for years, the Santa fire truck visits run on a different schedule for neighbors in different towns.
If you want to know when your local jolly old elves will be coming to your block, here’s the schedule for this year.
NOTE: All dates and times are approximate and weather-permitting.
Audubon
Saturday, December 19
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Audubon Fire Department splits up the town into four routes that are completed simultaneously. Children who greet Santa are likely to enjoy a candy cane from one of his helpful elves.
Cherry Hill
Saturday, December 12 through Sunday, December 20
times vary
Cherry Hill Fire Department offers an interactive map for residents to see when Santa will be arriving in their neighborhoods as well as a static Santa Neighborhood Map to track his visits. Start times (below) vary by date.
- Dec. 12 – 9 a.m.
- Dec. 13 – 5 p.m.
- Dec. 14 – 4 p.m.
- Dec. 15 – 4 p.m.
- Dec. 16 – 4 p.m.
- Dec. 17 – 4 p.m.
- Dec. 18 – 4 p.m.
- Dec. 19 – 10 a.m.
- Dec. 20 – 1 p.m.
Credit: Tricia Burrough.
Collingswood
Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18
6 to 8 p.m.
Collingswood Fire Department follows the borough leaf and brush collection schedule (reprinted below).
Monday
- Browning Road to Champion Avenue
- Collings Avenue to High Speed-Line
- Newton Avenue to Crescent Blvd.
- Woodlynne Avenue
- 300 & 400 Block of Park Avenue
Tuesday
- Bellevue Terrace up to and including Garfield Avenue
- Hi-Speedline to Haddon Twp. border
Wednesday
- Penn Avenue up to and including Lincoln Avenue
- Hi-Speedline to South Park Drive
Thursday
- Crestmont Terrace to Lincoln Avenue
- High Speed-Line to South Park Drive
- King Avenue to Lincoln Avenue
Friday
- South Atlantic Avenue to South Newton Lake Drive
- Lakeview Drive to Haddon Twp. border
- Bettlewood Avenue to Browning Road
- Collings Avenue to North Newton Lake Drive
Haddon Heights
Saturday, December 19
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, contact Haddon Heights Fire Department.
Haddon Township
Monday, December 7 through Sunday, December 20
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; times vary
Westmont Fire Company No. 1 also invites Christmas tree shoppers to visit the station seven days a week until 9 p.m. to pick out a live tree. Proceeds support the department.
Monday, Dec. 7—Bettlewood
- Lees Lane to White Horse Pike
- Cuthbert Road to E. Haddon Ave.
Tuesday, Dec. 8—Bluebird & Collingswood Manor
- Cuthbert Road to Collingswood border
- Cooper River to Newton Lake
Wednesday, Dec. 9—Emerald Hills (Pt. 1)
- Cuthbert Road to Cooper Street
- Lindisfarne Ave. to S. Park Drive, Keg & Kitchen
Thursday, Dec. 10—Emerald Hills & Westmont Heights
- Cooper Street to Maple Ave.
- Haddon Ave to Cooper River
- Coles Landing Rd.
- P.J.Whelihan’s
Sunday, Dec. 13— Park Ave. & 20th Century
- Cuthbert Road to Chestnut Ave.
- Speedline to Stokes Ave.
- W. Park Blvd. to Valley Drive
- Buckner Ave. to Crystal Lake Ave
Tuesday, Dec. 15—Westmont Ave. & Haddon Hills
- Chestnut Ave. to Evergreen Ave.
- Haddon Ave. to W. Park Blvd.
- Haddon Hills complex
Wednesday, Dec. 16—Haddonleigh Section
- Graisbury Ave. to Hopkins Road to Haddonfield border
Sunday, Dec. 20—West Collingswood Heights
Credit: Sgt. Esther Cutler. https://goo.gl/NTFP45
Merchantville
Sunday, December 20
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Niagara Fire Company traverses Merchantville in three units that operate simulaneously.
Oaklyn
Saturday, December 12
9 a.m. to 12 noon
One Santa detail will travel along the path of the railroad tracks, from the intersection of the Black Horse Pike and Kendall Boulevard to Congress Avenue. A second Santa unit will follow along the other side of the tracks, beginning at Hillcrest and Reading Avenues and wrapping up by Newton Creek Park.
Oaklyn Fire Department has also tentatively scheduled an evening drive-through of the borough for Sunday December 20.
Pennsauken
Saturday, December 12 through Sunday, December 20
times vary
Saturday, Dec. 12
- East Pennsauken
- Meadowbrook
- Pennbrook
- Chadwyck (I, II, III)
- Jordantown
- Iron Rock
- North Merchantville
- Hillcrest
- Delaware Gardens
- Baldwin’s Run
Tuesday, Dec. 15 (evening)
- Admiral Park
- Highland
Saturday, Dec. 19
- Collins Tract
- Pennwood
- Pennsauken Estates
Saturday, Dec. 19 (evening)
- Delair
- Bridgeview
- Morrisville
Sunday, Dec. 20
- Bloomfield Park
- Homestead
- Fairview Estates
Call the Pennsauken Fire Department at (856) 665-0774 for more information.
Feature photo credit: Tricia Burrough.
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