The Vermont National Guard will escort Santa Claus in a lighted convoy around the state on December 21-22.

The Operation Santa convoy will depart at 4:30 pm Tuesday, December 21 from the Walmart in the town of St. Albans. The convoy will then follow Route 7 south, stopping in Georgia at 5 p.m. and in Milton at 5:25 p.m.

Santa and the Guard will also appear at 6 p.m. on Route 2 in Winooski and at 6:20 p.m. on Route 15 in Essex. Santa will be spending the night at Barre before heading from White River Junction to Woodstock on Wednesday.

“One of the privileges we have in the National Guard is to serve the communities we share,” Maj.Lindsay Pigeon, executive director, 186th Brigade Support Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) said in a statement. “This is a great opportunity to do so while also bringing some holiday cheer to our friends and neighbors across the state.”

Operation Santa’s Convoy supports Governor Phil Scott’s VT Lights the Way initiative and will give children the opportunity to see Santa safely during COVID-19.

The convoy will consist of a set of different military vehicles, including a tow truck, military ambulance, forklift, 2 ton trucks and a variety of other vehicles supplied primarily by the 186th BSB.