NUTLEY, NJ - After flying in a helicopter and eating pancakes, Santa Claus is coming back to Nutley for his annual ride in one of the Nutley Fire Department trucks.
The annual trek is decades old and has taken place the third Saturday in December for as long as anyone can remember. For 2018, the ride will take place on Saturday Dec. 15.
TAPinto Nutley caught up with Santa at a few of his recent visits to town to get some of the details about his visits to the township. The reason why we never see the reindeer until the big night is because they are all planning for that global flight. One of the elves told us they are doing a lot of cross-fit and yoga, but unless we see photographic evidence, we cannot confirm that.
On the morning of Dec. 15, residents probably won't hear the 'North Pole Express' helicopter because it flies on "Silent Mode' during early morning flights into Nutley. Santa spends a part of his morning warming up with coffee at the Nutley Fire House on High St. He knows how hard the volunteer fire fighters work and likes to spread a little extra holiday cheer there. From there, he makes a journey through town to visit the children of Nutley on a Nutley Fire Truck.
Our confidential source got us the list of places that Santa will be visiting that morning. The schedule of destinations follows:
9:30am Joerg Ave & High St
9:40am Mapes & Norman St.
9:50am Kingsland St & Edison Ave
9:55am Spring Garden School
10:05am Raymond Ave & Ridge Rd
10:20am Radcliffe School
10:30am Mt Vernon & Bloomfield Ave
10:40am Harrison St & Van Winkle
10:50am Lincoln School
11:00am REST STOP
11:30am Ravine Ave & Harrison St
11:40am Prospect St & Vreeland Ave
11:50am Edgar Ave & Cherry Pl
12:00pm Terrace Ave & Glendale St
12:10pm Lakeside Dr & Wharton Ave
12:20pm Yantacaw School
12:30pm Grant & Whitford Ave
12:40 pm Yale St & Hancox Ave
12:50pm Walnut St & Park Ave
1:00pm Villa Pl & Grant Ave
1:10pm Nutley Ave & Walnut St
1:20pm Highfield Ln & Washington St
1:30pm North Rd & Rutgers Pl
1:40pm Walnut St & Howe Ave
1:50pm Cambridge Heights
2:00pm Washington School
Just in case it rains, Santa will spend his day with Nutley Fire Fighters so children can visit him in a warm dry location. If it rains, Santa will be at Nutley's three fire houses:
9:30 am – 10:20am High Street Fire House
10:30 am – 11:20am Chestnut Street Fire Headquarters
12:10 pm – 1:00pm Park Avenue Fire House
We asked our elf source about what happens if there is a fire and the truck has to leave. We learned that the fire truck will go where it is needed, and Santa will make his way around town in another vehicle.
All photos are from TAPinto Nutley's coverage of the 2017 ride. And yes, the Grinch did show up in Nutley last year and rode in the Nutley Haz Mat response vehicle.
Read more about Santa's 2018 visits to Nutley:
As the aroma of pancakes and sausage filled the kitchen, hundreds of guest filled the event hall at the Knights of Columbus for the annual 'Pancake Breakfast with Santa' hosted by the volunteer fire fighters in Nutley.
Santa’s Arrival Brings Christmas Spirit and Local Shoppers to Nutley
The 57th Annual Santa’s Arrival at the Nutley Park Oval, an event organized by the Nutley Chamber of Commerce and made possible by local businesses, not only provides children in the community an opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, but let’s residents know that Nutley is open for business.
Santa Arrives the Traditional Nutley Way, By Helicopter
The bitter cold temperature did not stop children from waiting for the jolly old elf Friday afternoon. Santa and Mrs. Claus kept the Nutley tradition and flew into town by whirlybird. Over 3,000 Nutleyites lined up outside the Nutley Park Oval fence on Nov. 23 for the 57th annual event, organized by the Nutley Chamber of Commerce.
Local Businesses Make Santa's Arrival by Helicopter in Nutley Possible
The members of the Chamber of Commerce wish everyone a happy, healthy, holiday season and ask you to please remember to always shop Nutley first. For the 57th year bring, the #ShopLocal season kicks off with Santa's arrival at the Nutley Park Oval.
TAPintoNutley.net is the only locally owned news organization serving the Township of Nutley and is a member of the New Jersey Press Association. Sign up for our FREE daily eNews. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @TAPintoNutley and Instagram @TAPintoNutley
Download the TAPinto App! Click here for Android. Click here for iOS.
Got a news tip? email us at Nutley@TAPinto.net