Friday, December 9, 2022 - 2:10pm By The Leader Staff
A file photo of Santa with his flight helmet visiting local students.
A file photo of Santa with his flight helmet visiting local students.
Photo Courtesy NAS Lemoore

Santa Claus is giving Rudolph and crew a vacation this year by trading in his red velvet hat for a flight helmet. The Jolly Ol’ Elf has enlisted the services of Naval Air Station Lemoore’s Search and Rescue unit to help him spread laughter and excitement to all the good boys and girls around the Central Valley on the morning of Friday, Dec. 16.

The U.S. Navy SAR MH-60S helicopter will land at the two NAS Lemoore base schools, where St. Nick will hand out treats and high-fives to students. Afterward, he will take off and fly over 26 other schools in the Central Valley.

Santa will wave to all the children below from the helicopter's right side as he makes his rounds to each elementary school before they let out for Winter Break.

This annual event is a favorite of locals and never fails to elicit screams of delight from the school children below.

Local schools in the Lemoore area include:

Stratford 10:20 to 10:35 a.m.

Central Union 10:25 to 10:40 a.m.

Island School 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

Meadow Lane 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

MIQ school 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

Cinnamon School 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

Kings Christian School 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

Lemoore High School 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.

P.W. Engvall School 11:00 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.

Freedom School 11:00 to 11:25 a.m.