Surfing Santas: A Sensational Christmas Celebration at Cocoa Beach
It’s that time of year again! Santa Claus is making his list and checking it twice – he’s going to find out who’s naughty or nice – Santa Claus is surfin’ to town!
Wait a minute… surfing?!
Surfing Santas
In a scene worthy of a Beach Boys Christmas album, hundreds of Santas will flock to Cocoa Beach on December 24th to catch some waves. The sparkling waters will be dotted with jolly folks dressed in red – some may even sport long white beards and pom-pom adorned caps!
This yearly tradition stemmed from a simple family event in 2009, eventually growing into the massive beach bash it is today. Raising tens of thousands of dollars for charity, this unique event is about more than just having holiday fun – it’s about making an impact on the local community.
One local charity that benefits from Surfing Santas is the Grind For Life, an organization that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families, as well as much-needed inspiration and education for those affected by the disease.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
The Florida Surf Museum also receives a portion of the proceeds as they, along with many dedicated volunteers, are instrumental in the success and organization of Surfing Santas every year.
Sounds like a great event! But how can you participate?
Santas of the Sea
There are several ways to participate in Surfing Santas 2023! You can be one of the roughly 800 Santas on the sea or one of nearly 10,000 spectators on the beach. Whether you’re on the waves or simply waving at Father Christmas as he sails by, this event is so much fun!
Additional entertainment includes live performances by musician Sam Sims, the Brevard Hawaiian Dancers, and the Harbor City Trio, as well as a costume contest and a raffle.
The costume contest is open to all ages. There are only two rules: make it holiday-themed and keep it family-friendly. Other than that, anything goes! From gingerbread men to Christmas trees to elves, the more creative you are, the more likely your chance of winning a prize. Crowd participation is a key part of this event as they clap and applaud for their favorite costumes, thereby determining the winners!
What about that raffle? Surfers, this one is for you! With the purchase of a raffle ticket, you have the chance to win a celebrity-signed surfboard along with a year’s worth of tickets to the King Center for the Performing Arts. (You’ll receive one pair of tickets for each month of 2024.)
As for the surfboard, it’s sporting some seriously cool signatures, like…
- Beach Boys – Mike Love, Bruce Johnston
- Actor John Stamos
- Comedian Nate Bargatze
- Comedian Steve-O
- Comedian Rodney Carrington
- Actor Jonathan Hashmonay – “Tevye” in National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof
- Musician & Founding Member of Staind – Aaron Lewis
- Comedian Roseanne Barr
- Legendary Band – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Backstreet Boy – Howie D
…with MORE autographs to come!!
Disney Inspired Recipe
This Amazing Gingerbread Recipe Will Knock Your Gumdrop Buttons Off!
Whipping up a batch of your own cookies is a piece of cake. (Is it okay to use a cake metaphor in an article about cookies??) Whether you’re sending a message of “I love you” to your family, friends, or yourself, Christmas gingerbread men make the best delivery men!
Be There, or Be Square
Ready to hang ten? Here’s everything you need to know about attending Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach!
One of the best parts of this iconic holiday event is that it’s budget-friendly. Admission is FREE!
You can find the “congregation of kahunas” at 3 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. It’s right in front of Coconuts on the Beach (which is a super yummy restaurant – love their coconut shrimp!).
This event kicks off on Christmas Eve morning (Dec 24) at 7:30 a.m. and runs until 12:00 p.m. The first half of the event includes the Sam Sims performance and two rounds of costume contests before Santas start surfing at 10:00 a.m. The rest of the morning will be packed with other performances and the raffle drawing towards the end.
Whether you stay for the entire event or just hang out for an hour or two to watch the Surfing Santas, this event will easily become the most unique and fun Christmas Eve you’ve ever experienced!
Have you been to Surfing Santas at Cocoa Beach? Are you planning to surf for the 2023 event? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
More Posts About Offbeat Florida
Dear MouseEars TV readers, This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Feature photo: Canva.com
