ID 416864405 | Christmas © Mutak Mera | Dreamstime.com

By Erika Rolling

Merry Christmas

NORAD tracking Santa for it’s 70th year

Dec 24, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Christmas Eve is here once again and with that the North American Aerospace Defense Command is set to follow Father Christmas around the globe today.

2025 marks NORAD’s 70th year tracking Santa’s annual flight worldwide, on top of their daily operations to defend North American airspace 24/7, 365.

NORAD Public Affairs team member and Royal Canadian Air Force Major Jennie Derenzis says the magic stays alive with tracking where old St. Nick is over the generations thanks to the work they do.

“Despite the passage of time the magic of Christmas endures. We had over 380,000 to our call centre last year in just a 24 hour period on December 24.”

Major Derenzis says there was also 5,00,000 unique views and over 32,000,000 visitors on the Santa Tracker website in 2024. There are also holiday themed games and features to be explored on the website/app while tracking the big man in red.

"tough few years" to come, says minister

Budget views shared in meeting with finance minister and Chamber members

6h ago

Zone 4

St. Patrick's Community School teacher named Division finalist for ASBA Edwin Parr Award

8h ago

Lacombe County

Fire Permit season underway

8h ago

She says although it is fun to see where Santa is, there is a time children will need to be asleep by to make sure he stops at your house to drop off gifts.

“If you can get yourself into bed by 9 p.m., that’s probably a good call because you have to be asleep when he arrives, and even though he can always turn around and circle back, we like to help him out and keep him on his original flight path.”

If you want to track where Santa is on his flight, you can check via:

• Calling 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to ask live operators about from 4 a.m. to midnight MST
• The official NORAD Tracks Santa app and/or website
• Digital media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X, and on contracture platforms Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM and OnStar

A new feature in 2025 is people will be able to make calls to live operators at NORAD’s Tracks Santa Operations Center on Christmas Eve through the Santa Tracker website with no phone number needed, only an internet connection. Over 200 languages are supported through the call centre.