For locals in Castaic, the yearly Santa float is a holiday staple, bringing children and families the opportunity to see Santa. This year is no different as the float is brought out once again for the 37th year.

Even after 37 years the float’s magic continues, and draws a crowd of excited children every night. Families brace for the cold night to the chance to sit with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas. 

“In our 37-year run, we only had to cancel once, and that was during the pandemic,” said Louie Diaz, the chairman of the Santa Float. 

The float was started 37 years ago by Castaic local Jeff Preach, and has evolved into a local tradition that generations of families remember. 

The float includes a ramp for children to walk to Santa, who sits on his sleigh pulled by reindeer. The float is pulled by a truck throughout the many neighborhoods of Castaic. 

Kids know it’s time to come outside and see Santa when the Castaic Lions Club truck comes through the neighborhood blasting Christmas music ahead of the float’s arrival.

“A long long time ago, when I was a child, I remember how much joy I got hearing that music truck coming up my street telling me it was time to go see Santa,” Diaz said. “Then you and your family and friends run down to the stop with your canned food to donate and you wait. Then you finally see Santa pull up and cheer. Because of those memories, I decided to chair this event. It is so much fun to now take the float a few nights a year, and hear all the kids cheering, especially when I go to my neighborhood and hear all the joy from the kids that live on my street.”

Each night is sponsored by a different local organization, with Monday’s float traveling the streets of Castaic with the help of volunteers from KHTS Radio.

Bradley Grose, president of non-profit SCV Grocery, put on the Santa suit for the second time, spending time with the children and listening attentively to their wishes. 

“About seven years after Jeff started the float, the Castaic Lions Club got involved,” Diaz said. “The first night we had way too much help, and the last night hardly anyone showed up, and the Lions that did were all tired out and grumpy. Sometimes we didn’t even play Christmas music on the float that last night. So to make sure all the Castaic families had a jolly Santa and elves, we started to have other organizations take the float out each night.”

The float begins operations at sunset for nine nights, beginning in the northern parts of Castaic, and making its way to the south.

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