Santa and his elves prepare for the night ride through Vienna on Dec. 10, the second Santa Run of the day. The Santa Run is an annual tradition run by the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department; volunteers brave the frigid temperatures to ensure Vienna children meet Santa in-person. Photo by Matt Jones/Vienna Volunteer Fire Department
It’s December ... it’s cold and blustery; it’s dark late afternoon … it’s time for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s annual one-week Santa Run through the streets of Vienna. Ten shifts manned by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and a team of elves direct from the North Pole brave frigid temps even as their faces freeze as the wind slaps their cheeks.
Santa Run Schedule
[SE Vienna and NW1 between Lawyers Road and W&OD completed]
• Thursday, Dec 15, 5 p.m. - SW1, between Park and Hillcrest;
• Friday, Dec 16, 5 p.m. - NE1, between W&OD and Beulah;
• Saturday, Dec 17, 1 p.m. - NW2, west of Madison HS and Laywers;
• Monday, Dec 19, 5 p.m. - NE2, east of Beulah. See map at http://vvfd.org/san….
Write to Santa at santa@vvfd.org. A very hip Santa has his own Twitter account, too: @vvfdsanta.
Follow him and his touring fire truck as he rides through Vienna on Twitter, on the Glympse app (which his designated driver activates as Santa begins his runs), or at Santa’s temporary-home page, http://vvfd.org/san….
As the 1946 antique fire truck makes its way through neighborhoods, its sirens blare, holiday music booms, and bells jingle-a-lingle, announcing its arrival. Santa waves as he rides — to cars honking a greeting, to children and their parents running out to the curb, to grandmas and grandpas — perhaps, remembering the childhoods of their own grown children — standing outside their doorways, smiling, and to landscapers and construction workers happy to see Santa in person. Even family dogs race around their yards — presumably, in glee — as the siren neared.
As children race outside their homes, the fire truck stops, the elves — dressed in fire gear — jump off to give the children candy canes, and Santa leans over the side of the truck, waving. Chief Elf Adam Searle recommends that children come to the curb as soon as their parents hear the sirens and music on the street.
Write to Santa at santa@vvfd.org. A very hip Santa has his own Twitter account, too: @vvfdsanta.
Follow him and his touring fire truck as he rides through Vienna on Twitter, on the Glympse app (which his designated driver activates as Santa begins his runs), or at Santa’s temporary-home page, http://vvfd.org/santa.html. Weather, mechanical issues, or immediacy at the North Pole, may prompt a deviation from Santa’s run schedule.
