Joliet, IL – Drivers across Joliet should expect brief delays Saturday morning as a citywide police and fire escort accompanies Santa Claus out of town following the annual Santa Send-Off event.
According to the Joliet Police Department, the escort will take place Saturday, December 13, beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding around 11:30 a.m. The event will involve marked vehicles from Joliet Police and Joliet Fire, temporarily slowing traffic along several major roadways as the procession moves through the city.
Officials say residents and commuters should plan ahead and consider alternate routes during the escort window, as short delays are expected wherever the procession passes.
The planned escort route begins at Woodruff & Draper, continuing through Chadesworth, Williamson, Collins, Cass, Henderson, Washington, Richards, Jefferson, Eastern, Cass, Scott, Columbia/Ruby Street, Raynor, Western, Reed, Glenwood, Essington, Caton Farm Road, Drauden, Theodore, Ridge Road, and Caton Farm Road, before exiting the area.
The event is part of Joliet’s annual holiday tradition, symbolically sending Santa back to the North Pole with a citywide escort. While the procession is festive, officials emphasize that public safety and traffic awareness remain the priority.
Motorists traveling through Joliet in Will County, particularly those commuting toward nearby suburbs or the greater Chicago metropolitan area, are encouraged to allow extra travel time and remain patient during the escort.
Police remind drivers to obey traffic instructions, avoid attempting to pass the escort, and remain alert for emergency vehicles along the route.
Additional details and updates can be found at joliet.gov/santa.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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