On Aquidneck Island Santa comes right to your door. How organizers keep the tradition going

The phrase “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is repeated quite a bit throughout the holiday season – especially all over Aquidneck Island.

Each year, the jolly old elf makes his rounds in neighborhoods in Middletown, Portsmouth and Newport, bringing cheer to kids right to their doorstep. His daily journey is mapped out on Facebook pages and over the years apps have become a popular source to let families track Santa's trip so they'll know almost exactly when he'll be on their street.

“It’s a complete team effort to pull it together yearly,” said Newport firefighter and event coordinator Evan McDermott.

McDermott said the NFD has had a Santa presence in the community since the 1970s. His start however didn't include eight tiny reindeer. In those early days, Santa was driven in a red jeep.

Around eight years ago, former Fire Chief Peter Connerton wanted Santa to ride in a sleigh. Luckily, the NFD members have some building skills. Current Fire Chief Harp Donnelly built that first sleigh.

McDermott emphasized that “it’s a team effort and all hands are on deck” during the Santa runs.

The fire stations are still manned and staffed during those times and it’s the off-duty firefighters and other volunteers that lead Santa around town.

Police are also involved with the effort and escorting Santa through the city, McDermott said.

“Kids and adults look forward to it every year; it does mean a lot. You can tell,” McDermott said.

The volunteers even equipped Santa a few years ago with a microphone so neighbors can hear his trademark laugh echoing throughout the city.

Middletown Fire Lt. Matt Maruska said the town has conducted runs for 10 nights in December and for at least 15 years.

All money is raised to conduct the event through the local firefighter association, as candy canes are passed out along the way.

“It's gone fantastic this year, even with the bridge (in Providence) closing down,” Maruska said.

He said the local firefighters look forward to the event as much as the people and kids they encounter on the streets.

Like Newport, Middletown relies on off-duty personnel who volunteer their time to help spread joy.

Portsmouth is the only community that has a Santa run not conducted by the local fire association, though they use the fire station as a base.

Kelly Packenham, a longtime volunteer, said Portsmouth had a Santa fire department boat and old St. Nick would show off his boating skills while spreading Christmas joy – a photo of the old tradition is displayed on the group’s Facebook page.

When the boat was retired in the mid-1990s, a group of families decided to start the non-profit Santa’s Tour.

She said a few families united in 1995 to keep the tradition alive. They took antique tractors, “curated a sleigh” and the tradition has never faded.

Packenham said the two families that prolonged the run want to remain anonymous, as do many of the volunteers.

Packenham says it takes weeks of planning but it’s all worth it.

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She said she usually follows the Santa sleigh and gets the best view – people’s initial reaction to Santa.

“I have the best view. The kids run up. Their eyes are wide. They’re yelling for Santa. That’s the best part. That‘s why we do it,” she said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Firefighters, volunteers keep Santa tour tradition alive on Aquidneck Island