At about 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Santa started his trek at Oxnard Shores, flew over Channel Islands Harbor, and then visited neighborhoods in the Port Hueneme area. In Oxnard Santa swept over Oxnard’s La Colonia, St. John’s Regional Medical Center, on to El Rio/Nyeland Acres, then over the Camarillo Airport, the city’s Premium Outlets and other venues before heading out Vineyard Avenue and the Saticoy Bridge before moving on to Santa Paula. After he visited the city Santa made his way through Ventura, over the beach areas, and then back to River Ridge before landing again in Oxnard.
Shouts of welcome could be heard in various neighborhoods where adults and children gathered, with many of the kids told although Santa was out and about, he would sneak back later to each of their homes to leave toys. And, considering the cold night air, at each stop it is hoped Santa received his traditional reward of warm cookies and milk and/or piping hot cocoa.
Aspen Helicopter’s pilot Rob Scherzinger assisted Santa, whose rig for the Christmas Eve visit attached to the Bell Long Ranger helicopter weighs 800 pounds and is 35-feet long, big and bright enough to easily spot - and make believers out of everyone - as Old St. Nick made his annual jolly flyover.
