Lodi Santa Truck is coming to town
If you hear the belly laugh of a jolly old man dressed in red heading down the street next week, it just may be Santa.
Lodi Fire Department is bringing out its Santa Truck again this year with routes through Lodi neighborhoods beginning on Monday Dec. 5 and continuing through Monday, Dec. 19.
It’s a holiday tradition that has spanned generations.
“I remember it as a little kid,” said Lodi Fire Captain Michael Alegre. “It’s a neat feeling with people who are new to the community see it and don’t realize what it is. It gives Lodi that small town community feeling.”
There is a new change in the schedule this year with firefighters driving Santa first to the parking lots of businesses in town at approximately 6:30 p.m. before making their way through the neighborhoods.
Santa will visit the neighborhoods behind and around Tokay High School this Monday after first stopping at the SMart on Kettleman Lane. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the neighborhoods north of Borchardt School will see Santa after he stops at Costco in the Reynolds Ranch shopping center.
If you live in the neighborhoods south of Mallard Lake, Santa will swing by on Wednesday, Dec. 7 after making a stop at the Super Wal-Mart off of Lower Sacramento Road. The next route travels from Hale Park down much of Washington Street and close to Lodi Academy on Thursday, Dec. 8 after a stop at Rancho San Miguel market.
Park West residents will see Santa on Monday, Dec. 13 traveling close to the canal after a stop at Lakewood Mall on Ham Lane.
After stopping at S-Mart on Lodi Avenue, Santa will visit the area near General Mills and Henry Glaves Park on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Devine Drive is the next stop on Wednesday Dec. 15 as Santa makes his way through the area near Mokelumne River, behind Lakewood School.
The last scheduled stop is at Target on Kettleman Lane before he greets families from Pleasant Avenue past Nichols School to the area west of Lodi Middle School.
Since the transmission was replaced on the old fire engine last year, there have been few if any issues, although much of the 30-year-old lights had to be cut off during the repair process. Last year community fundraising and the help of City of Lodi mechanics donating their time helped bring back the holiday tradition and restore the 1967 Hi-Ranger fire truck, according to Lodi Fire
Chief Gene Stoddart.
Believe it or not this rig which was formerly in service can hold 50 people on it, Alegre said.
Lodi Fire was able to get new energy-efficient LED lights to string around the engine and has added a new sound system this year to ensure that families definitely hear Santa as he
approaches.
Also expect Santa and his fire truck to appear as usual in the Parade of Lights tonight at 6:17 p.m. and this weekend in Downtown Lodi during the Pictures with Santa event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Before heading out to wait for Santa’s arrival in your neighborhoods these next couple of weeks, take some time to bring out non-perishable food donations that firefighters will be collecting along the routes for the local food bank.
In bad weather, a route could get postponed until Dec. 20, when Lodi Fire will make up for the missed day. While Santa cannot make it down every street before his big ride on Christmas Eve, residents can see him on one of the stops along the way or they can walk down to his scheduled route and enjoy a special visit.