Tracking Santa

NORAD celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Track Santa programme through a partnership with The Macerich Company

This Christmas Eve should be a restful night for children across the United States. They’ll go to bed knowing that Santa has arrived safe and sound after his long journey from the North Pole. It’s all because The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Track Santa programme and has partnered with The Macerich Company to bring all of the excitement to wee ones online.
Patrons from any Macerich shopping centre in the nation can access NORAD’s Santa tracking site through Website banner links and see the progress St. Nick has made on his annual trek.
For shoppers at Macerich’s The Citadel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the partnership has taken on a whole new dimension. The centre, which is nestled in a strong military community, is adorned with North Pole Tracking Station décor, complete with reindeer assistants wearing official attire and patches. The centre says NORAD actually volunteered expertise on the campaign’s design to help ensure an authentic feel for the North Pole Tracking Station.
The children who visit Santa this year, before he goes on his 24-hour around-the-world trip, are treated to a video about NORAD’s Track Santa programme, audio messages in languages from around the world and an exclusive 24-page Tracking Station colouring book. To make the experience even more memorable, families from nearby Fort Carson and other military bases were invited to join in the holiday activities to kick-off the campaign and record video messages for loved ones currently serving overseas.
“Generations of children have excitedly followed Santa’s annual Christmas Eve trip from the North Pole through NORAD’s official tracking system,” said Robert Taylor, The Citadel’s senior property manager. “We are proud to bring this experience to life through this first-of-its-kind tracking station this holiday season and are grateful for NORAD’s support in this exciting effort.”
Besides the tracking station, The Citadel has lots more in store for shoppers before the end of the year. There’s a Gingerbread Village Exhibit (a partnership with the Colorado Springs Child Nursery Centres and the 11th Annual Gingerbread & Jazz Gala), the Thanks & Giving ornament sale benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and a holiday gift-wrap station whose proceeds will go to the local Colorado Springs Youth Symphony (the wrapping services are free for military families). Throughout this festive season, serving families will also enjoy special discounts from retailers participating in the Military Appreciation programme.