Christmas festivities may look different this year, but there are still ways to capture the magic of the season.

Check out these three ways to make the holiday a little more fun – and a little easier – for military families.

NORAD’s Still Tracking Santa

Military officers with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will be standing by to track Santa despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officers monitor radar systems at 47 installations across the U.S. and Canada for indications that Santa has left the North Pole. Infrared sensors on the radar systems pick up the heat from Rudolph’s nose to track movement, according to NORAD.

In a separate operations center, volunteers answer phone calls from families asking about Santa’s location. You can call the center at 1-877-446-6723, but note there could be longer wait times because there will be fewer volunteers this year.

Families can follow Santa’s route by watching NORAD’s Santa Tracker website, using the NORAD Tracks Santa mobile app (Apple App Store | Google Play) or asking a smart speaker, like Amazon Alexa or OnStar.

Discount on Virtual Santa Meet and Greet

Military families can meet Santa on a virtual call this year.

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is working with JingleRing, a video chat platform, to connect families with Santa. The call includes a visit from Mrs. Claus, and holiday stories can be added.

JingleRing allows families to personalize the visit and select a Santa that speaks different languages, including American Sign Language. 

Families can register for a call online. Pricing packages start at $19.96 for up to three children (though dates closer to Christmas can be significantly higher), and military families can receive a 20% discount.

After the call, families receive a link to a recording of the virtual meeting as a keepsake.

Need a Last-Minute Gift at the Commissary?

Commissary gift cards are easy solutions for stocking-stuffers, and this year they can be purchased with an “open value.” – you select the amount of money to put on the card, between $5 and $300.

The cards are available for purchase worldwide and online.

The gift card options are expanded from last year, when the commissary launched its gift card program in just 40 locations, with limits up to $50.