LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 27-year Bullitt County Christmas tradition will kick off Thursday.

Zoneton firefighters unveiled their 2024 Santa Truck at Station One Wednesday evening. Santa was also on hand, to take photos and visit with families who might not live along the annual truck tour.

The theme this year is "Toy Story." The truck includes 76,000 LED lights held together with 15,000 zip-ties. 

The fire department has been decorating the Santa Truck for 27 years, and said it has only gotten bigger. 

Zoneton Fire Chief Kevin Moulton said Wednesday's unveiling event and tour are the department's way of showing appreciation to their community.

"This is a big deal for us to be able to give back to the supportive community that we have," Moulton said. "This is really, you know, the only way to say thank you to them and start getting them and everyone into the holiday spirit."

IMAGES | Zoneton firefighers unveil 2024 Santa Truck

While the truck is all about spreading cheer in Bullitt County, it has a special meaning for many within Zoneton Fire.

In June, Zoneton lost Sgt. John Vickers after a battle with cancer. In 2020, Chief Rob Orkies died after a battle with both cancer and COVID-19. Just two months later, Maj. Garry Key died of COVID-19.

This year's truck will include a framed photo of the three men on the front of the truck.

Starting this Thursday, Dec. 5, the truck will tour neighborhoods for 13 days, which is longer than previous years. The nightly tours will start around 6 p.m., weather permitting, and last about three hours. Santa will join the firefighters and elves on the drive around town.

Organizers said it takes two weeks to decorate the truck with lights, special effects, sounds and more, including additional generators to power the lights and decorations. The truck needed four extra generators to provide enough power last year. 

Download PDF Zoneton Fire 2024 Santa Truck tour schedule

The Santa Truck will also visit schools and day care facilities during December to greet students as they get to school or head home.

There are 13 different routes, one for each day of the Santa Truck tour. To look at each route individually, click here.

For the 2024 Santa Truck schedule, click here or on the PDF embedded in this story.

Zoneton said that while it was one of the first departments to bring a decorated Christmas truck with Santa to neighborhoods, others have created their own after seeing Zoneton's success.

On Dec. 22, fire departments with their own decorated Santa Truck will meet up for a toy drive at the Paroquet Springs Conference Center in Shepherdsville, starting at 7:30 p.m.

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