Fayette City Volunteer Fire Co. keeps Christmas Eve tradition alive
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
Not even COVID-19 will stop a decades-long tradition in Fayette City this holiday season.
As has been the practice for more than 60 years, Santa Claus will visit children throughout the city and neighboring areas on Christmas Eve to help spread Christmas cheer.
Jolly Old St. Nick will be escorted by the Fayette City Volunteer Fire Company, and Chief Jim Eley said this year will be slightly different.
Eley said in previous years, Santa would go inside the children’s houses to meet them and hand out gifts and treats, but due to COVID mitigations this year, things will be a bit different.
“Everything is going to be done outside,” Eley said.
Eley said Santa will begin his trip tonight around 6 p.m., and will start in Jefferson Township. He’ll make stops in Brownstown and Gillespie before heading back to Fayette City.
Eley said parents and family members make a call to the fire station to place a request to have Santa stop at their house, and he said last year Santa stopped at approximately 50 houses and visited around 200 kids.
He said Santa typically finishes the night around 11 p.m., although there have been times where he doesn’t stop until 2 a.m.
Eley expects another busy night for Santa this year.
“The phone calls were a little slow after Thanksgiving,” he said. “But it’s really picked up lately. On Christmas Eve our phone will be ringing all day.”
Eley said the tradition of Santa visiting children in Fayette City dates back more than 60 years, and it’s not just the youngsters who look forward to the event.
“I can remember when I was a little tyke and they would stop at the house,” he said. “It’s been something that’s been passed down from generations. Around Halloween, the guys here start to get excited about it.”
Eley said riding with the fire department all night makes for an interesting experience for Santa.
“There’s been a couple times where Santa fought some fires on Christmas Eve,” he said with a laugh.
To request a stop from Santa on Christmas Eve, call 724-707-4707.
