For twenty years, the streets of Westchase have come alive each December with the sound of sirens, holiday music, and children's laughter as Santa Claus makes his annual pre-Christmas tour through the community. Santa's Pre-Flight Parade, founded in 2005 by WCF creators Dan O'Brien and Ralph Caputo, has grown from a small neighborhood event into the most beloved holiday tradition in Westchase.
The concept is magical in its simplicity: Santa rides atop a vintage fire truck, escorted through every neighborhood in Westchase by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department. The seven-hour journey begins in the afternoon and winds through villages along Countryway Boulevard, Harbor Links, Radcliffe, The Greens, The Fords, Tree Tops, and The Bridges before culminating at West Park Village Center.
What started as a way to raise awareness for the foundation's charitable mission has become something far more meaningful — a community ritual that families look forward to all year. Children camp out on sidewalks and lawns, parents set up folding chairs along the route, and neighbors gather with hot chocolate to share the evening together. Over 3,000 people participate each year.
The parade also serves as a catalyst for giving. An annual toy drive collects new, unwrapped toys at collection points along the route, ensuring that every child in the community can experience the magic of Christmas. The event is completely free for all Westchase residents.
For the families who have built their holiday traditions around this event — the children who grew up watching Santa's fire truck pass by and now bring their own children — the parade represents something beyond entertainment. It represents community, belonging, and the spirit that makes Westchase more than a neighborhood: a family.
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