The annual Christmas Eve Santa Run has become a favourite among families in Cochrane and it's just around the corner.
Expect to see off duty members of the Cochrane Fire Services along with the jolly man from the North Pole riding atop a fire truck through your community on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at the following times and locations.
Things will get underway in the community of Fireside at 1:40 p.m. There will be a five minute stop by the traffic circle by the children's red park (1:45 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.). They will then drive down Fireside Way to Fireside School to Fireside Parkway to Fireside Drive and out through Fireside Blvd.
The Willows is next on the list with a five minute stop at the play park south of the traffic circle on Willow Park (2:05 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.). They will then drive to Willow Street to the traffic circle on Willow Drive and off to the next stop.
River Heights (Riversong Northside) Santa and crew will stop at River Heights play park on River Heights Blvd for five to 10 minutes (2:20 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). They will then carry on through River Heights Blvd to River Heights Green back to River Heights children's park and out.
Riviera is to follow with a 10 minute stop at the traffic circle by Riviera play park (2:35 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.) and then they are off to the next community.
Ridge View (Riversong Southside) can expect to see the jolly bunch come through at 2:55 p.m. at Ridge Gate and around to Ridge View Close. Note there will not be a stop at this location.
Bow Ridge is up next as Santa will make his way to Toboggan Hill at Bow Ridge Road/George Fox Trail for a five minute stop (3:10 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.). They will then make their way on Bow Ridge Road to Bow Ridge Crescent (past Clarence Copithorne Park) and back to Toboggan Hill and out.
In Bow Meadows the gang will go around the entire Bow Meadows Drive loop at 3:20 p.m. Note there will be no stop at this location.
West Terrace the five minute stop will take place down Quigley Drive to Mitford/Cochrane Catholic Academy School from 3:30 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. They will then head down West Terrace Road back to Quigley Drive to exit.
Glenbow is up next coming through on Glenpatrick Road (North to South) stopping at Glenbow School for five minutes (3:45 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.) heading out Glenpatrick Road to Fifth Ave.
The group will then pass through River View from 4:00 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. from Riverview Drive (North to South) around the entire Riverview Close back down to Riverview Drive to exit. Note there is no stop at this location.
Downtown is next on the nice list. Santa and company will come through at 4:15 on 1st Street West starting at the Shell Gas Station to Rockyview Hotel to Coffee Traders where they will stop for Santa's milk and cookie break for around 10 minutes.
With full bellies the crew will then head through Cochrane Heights at 4:35 p.m. around the Tri-Schools down to Chinook Drive to Fourth Ave and out. Note there is no stop at this location.
Heartland, last year's community spirit winners, are up next as Santa will come through on Heartland Way (West to East) to the traffic circle where they will stop from 4:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They will then exit via Heartland Blvd.
Heritage Hills will follow suit with the bunch coming from Heritage Gate to Heritage Drive stopping at the children's play park from 5:10 p.m.to 5:15 p.m. on to Heritage Blvd to Heritage View taking Heritage Drive out.
And it's up to Sunset Ridge next at 5:30 p.m. where Santa will come in on Sunset Drive (South to North) past St. Timothy's School to Sunset Blvd to the children's play park at the pond for a 10 minute stop (5:35 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.).
Santa and fire crews will then head through Gleneagles coming through GlenEagles Drive at the entrance of Glenvista Place and Glensummit Close with a five minute stop to follow (6:00 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.). They will then continue on GlenEagles Drive back down to the Highway 1A underpass.
And finally things will wrap up on the East End as a busy Santa Claus will have to get ready for his big night ahead. The fire truck will make its way from Mountain to Pope to Sibbald to Carolina stopping at Dewey Park for a few minutes at 6:15 p.m.
