WESTMINSTER — Today is the deadline for Westminster residents to enter maybe the most important lottery in the city — and it’s not for millions of dollars.
It’s all about Santa Claus riding an antique firetruck as he pays a personal visit to local kids.
Since 1937, Westminster firefighters have delivered Santa to the homes of those lucky enough to have their names picked out of a hat. Once there, the jolly old elf hands out candy and personally gets handed a child’s Christmas Eve wish list.
“Some kids give him advertising circulars right out the newspaper,” said Diana Allen, spokeswoman for the Westminster Fire Department. “Other kids draw him pictures of what they want, and others give him a long list.
“And the moms and dads usually give him milk and cookies and listen in.”
Interest in Santa’s visits has not waned since it was started by the city’s tiny then-all-volunteer crew, she said. Officials thought it would be a good way for firefighters to spread a little holiday cheer.
“It’s become a tradition through word of mouth by people who had Santa come into their homes when they were little kids,” Allen said.
Firefighters line up to play Santa, while others clamor to play his elves.
“Some of them love to play Santa; some others love to be drivers,” Allen said. “We have an emergency-management guy who plays a singing Santa, and he sings Christmas carols.”
All the firefighters are off- duty and are assisted by volunteers, including Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally, who plays Nutmeg, an elfin helper. Santa is driven to each home by fire engines that are either retired or not in service.
As many as 300 families annually enter the lottery to get a Santa visit, and about 200 to 230 visits are scheduled each year. Lottery requests for Santa visits began Nov. 1, and the winning entries will be announced Monday.
The visits are scheduled geographically and undertaken by four crews that spread joy through six city fire districts.
Santa will make his rounds Dec. 1-6.
Santa usually draws a crowd, so firefighters want to limit the number of kids at each house to about 10, Allen said.
“Santa’s a busy guy,” Allen said. “He’s got lots of places to go and people to visit.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
How to enter
Want to get into the lottery for a visit from Santa? There are three ways to register if you are a Westminster resident:
Online at ; e-mail santa@cityofwestminster.us; or call 303-706-3031.
