BOSTON – Santa Claus flies out Tuesday night on Christmas Eve, and children across New England and around the world will be watching thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command – known as NORAD.

How to Track Santa Claus with NORAD

The organization offers several ways to monitor Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve. Children can call 1 (877) HI-NORAD, track it using the NORAD mobile apps or find an interactive tracker at noradsanta.org.

NORAD’s David Kang spoke with WBZ-TV’s Jacob Wycoff on Christmas Eve last year. Kang explained how the annual tradition started with a simple mistake.

“It was a coincidence that we tracked down Santa Claus,” Kang said. “We received a call from a young girl who had mistyped and were assigned to our dispatch center at NORAD. Then one of the chiefs of the battle staff picked up the phone and started pampering himself like Santa Claus. And as a result, we were tracking Santa Claus for about 68 years.”

Massachusetts awaits the arrival of Santa Claus

As Santa prepares to approach the area, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is ready for his arrival.

MassWildlife and Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday that Santa Claus has officially been granted special permission for his team to fly into the skies over Massachusetts.

“No matter what holiday you celebrate, this is a time of connection and joy,” Healey said. “Santa and his reindeer are a beloved part of the magic and we look forward to welcoming them back to our skies on Christmas Eve.”