By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Christmas is merely days away, and before Santa makes his way to deliver toys and presents on Dec. 25, he will be out and about on Christmas Eve, visiting numerous neighborhoods in Helena.

A tradition for many years has been for the Helena Fire Department to send out fire engines with Santa to visit numerous neighborhoods in Helena. Beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, he will begin his route.

The HFD has provided a list of various routes with the names of streets Santa is scheduled to visit, however he will not be able to make it to every street.

“Due to Santa’s busy schedule, he will not be able to go on every street. He will be on a major roadway in every part of the city,” according to the HFD. “Listen for the siren that lets you know he is near.”

The three routes Santa is scheduled to make have been broken down into a gold, red and green route list.

The following streets and neighborhoods listed in the gold route are as follows:

Timber Lakes, Saddlewood, Sterling Lakes, Long Leaf Lakes, Glen Gate, Asbury Parc, Laurel Lakes, Silver Lakes, Glasgow Green, Country Side Lane, Oak Park, Chestnut Forest, Quail Ridge, Creekwater, Oak Brook, Shelby County 13, Honeysuckle, Prescott Place and Mossbend.

The following streets and neighborhoods listed in the red route are as follows:

Stonecreek, Cahaba Falls, Riverwoods, Old Cahaba, Hillsboro, Tocoa Park, Falliston, Jackson Square, St. Charles, Coalmont Road, Shelena Estates, Wyndham, Ashley Brook, Brandywine and Fieldstone, Breckenridge Park, Rocky Ridge, Scurlock Road, Dunham Farm, Shamrock, Sunnybrook and Royal Pines and Fox Valley Apartments.

The following streets and neighborhoods listed in the green route are as follows: Chadwick, Bearden Lane, Cunningham Drive, Lake Davidson, Old Town, Second and Third Street, First Avenue West, First Avenue East, Rolling Mill, Helena Road to Hwy 17, Roy Drive, Parkside, Jenkins Circle, Shannon Glenn, Cedar Bend, Roy Court, Hickory Point, Harbor Town, Fox Haven and Kingridge, Braelin Village, Timber Park, Laurel Woods, Amberly Woods, Cherokee Crest/Navajo Hills, Village Parish, Tradewinds Circle, Dearing Downs, Woodvale and Augusta Pointe, Surrey Trail, Sugar Creek, Cottages of Dearing Downs, Bridlewood/Bridlewood Parc and Plantation South.

The Helena Fire Department insists that this list is only a guide and is subject to change should an emergency arise or inclement weather occurs.