A GoFundMe has been launched to support The Castaic Lion’s Club’s Santa Float, a tradition that has been bringing Santa to Castaic neighborhoods for nearly 40 years.

This year marks 39 years that Santa has been paying visits to all the good boys and girls of Castaic on his sleigh pulled by all nine reindeer.

Almost four decades ago, Jeff Preach, a current Castaic Lions Club member, lived in Manhattan Beach, where a similar event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce brought Santa through neighborhoods,  sponsored by organizations such as the police and fire departments.

When Preach moved to Castaic, he wanted to bring that same tradition to his new neighborhood, unaware of the lasting impact it would have on future generations.

During its early stages, Preach and his three boys worked on the Santa float using a dirt bike trailer with the current fiberglass sleigh Preach built with his neighbor, who at the time worked with Disney.

In the first few years, the float only had seven plastic reindeer because Preach wasn’t able to afford all nine, he recalled.

“When we first started doing the Santa float, when we got to our stops, my three boys would knock on people’s doors and then run back to the float and stand in line so people knew they could come out and see Santa,” Preach recalled.

Prior to its first year, Preach reached out to the Castaic Lions Club to see if they would like to help with the float.

The club then donated $300 to purchase candy canes to give away to the children in the community.

After about seven years of using a dirt bike trailer and plastic reindeer, Preach was able to get the Castaic Lions Club to join in and help design and weld the float as it is seen today.

Lately, the Castaic Lions Club has lost a few of its major fundraising events, making money tight for the club.

A GoFundMe has been started to help raise funds for at least the next two Christmases.

“Three years ago, we launched a GoFundMe to help with Costs,” said Louie Diaz, the current chair of the Santa float. “Castaic, you didn’t disappoint last time, and it was so cool to see how you all rallied together to help us raise the needed money to make needed improvements to the float, to keep it running smoothly. As someone who grew up on this awesome float the Preach family has created, it is an honor of mine to run this nine-night event, and to continue to bring cheer to kids, even to the same stop that I once stood on waiting for Santa.”

This year, the float is scheduled to start on Saturday, Dec. 6, lasting through Sunday, Dec. 14.

“The Santa float is such a huge staple to the families of Castaic,” said Dave Chittum, the president of the Castaic Lions Club. “Would Jeff and the Preach family have started almost 40 years ago has been something our community looks forward to each and every year. Thank you to all the community members who have donated to the float in the past, and again this year, whether it be financially or through donating food, we as a club and a community cannot thank you enough.”

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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