Surfing Santas Festival: A Unique Christmas Tradition

Have you heard of the Surfing Santas Festival but find it difficult to catch up to it? Then, this concise article will cover the past, present, and future of the Surfing Santas Festival.

Surfing Santas is just as the name describes - a festival where all the Santas gather together and surf on the beach to celebrate Christmas.

What is the Surfing Santas Festival?

Surfing Santas was a small family day on Cocoa Beach, Florida, that quickly turned into a worldwide phenomenon, attracting tourists from all over the world. It grew so big that the event is now sponsored and hosted by the Florida Surf Museum.

To celebrate the Surfing Santas Festival, tourists from all over the world come together on Christmas Eve at the venue and join the surfing Santas with friends and family. 

As it stands, it is currently one of the few public events to celebrate Christmas, but it is certainly one of the most popular ones.

Short History of Surfing Santas Festival

Source: clickorlando.com

The first time Surfing Santas came into being was during a family outing in 2009. The uniqueness of this family fun quickly drew the attention of the people nearby. In 2010, ten more people showed up only to spectate the outing. 

The next year, approximately 84 people attended, and through only word-of-mouth, the number increased to 10,000 spectators.

After that, it was only a matter of time before over 800 Santas were surfing with tens of thousands of spectators who came to enjoy the pleasing sight. 

The founder of the event quickly took this to notice, and it was shortly after that, the Surfing Santas Festival turned into an event that would raise funds for local charities in Florida.

What Charities Does The Surfing Santas Festival Support?

The Surfing Santas Festival is a lot more than a mere celebration. To clarify, every year, bulks of merchandise are sold - Surfing Santas Swag. All the funding raised by the Surfing Santas Festival goes to two main charities.

Currently, Surfing Santas houses two charities. The host, Florida Surf Museum, and Grind for Life.

1. Florida Surf Museum

Florida Surf Museum came into being in 1999 based on the shared notion of the people. Located within the Ron Jon Surf Shop Watersports Rental Building, the Florida Surf Museum bears the responsibility of preservation and documentation of Florida’s unique history and culture linked to surfing.

2. Grind For Life

Grind For Life may not be directly linked to surfing, but its mission is undeniably worth the appreciation. In 2003, Mike Roger, a famous skateboarder, founded Grind for Life. The organization has since been dedicated to financially assisting cancer patients.

It goes past the scope of treatment and even provides financial aid to families so that they may be able to travel long distances to visit the doctors and their loved ones. Mike himself is a two-time cancer survivor, and therefore, he is even more dedicated to the cause.

What to Expect From Surfing Santas Festival?

The Surfing Santas event promises the attendees a lot of excitement, minus the past hassles during the festival. Expect the following from the Surfing Santas Festival:

  1. Onsite power and water to mitigate the risk of any outage or water shortage.
  2. Handicap parking is available with easy accessibility to the beach.
  3. Increased parking space to avoid traffic jams.
  4. Comparatively less crowding - participants can enter from north, south, and west. Guests who live nearby can just reach by foot.
  5. Separated and easily accessible space for media and staff.
  6. Coffee and food trucks are invited to participate.
  7. Public bathrooms at the park to accommodate the large number of attendees.
  8. Families can hang out for a picnic post-event at the public gazebos.
  9. Local restaurants are invited to cater the event.
  10. The event is hosted by the Florida Surf Museum, and it is only one block away from the venue.

When and Where is the Surfing Santas Festival?

Source: BBC

2023 will be the 14th Year of the Surfing Santas Festival, and it's already starting to gain a lot of attention from all over the world. Each year, the Surfing Santas festival brings something new while staying true to its traditional values.

However, the Surfing Santas Festival is hosted in Florida! Finding the right information on the Surfing Santas Festival can be tricky, but here’s everything you need to know about the 14th year of Surfing Santas.

  • Date: Sunday, 24th December, 2023
  • Venue: 3 Minutemen Cswy, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931
  • Duration: 07:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Event Fee: Free to enter
  • Email: surfingsantas@gmail.com
  • Address: Surfing Santas of Cocoa Beach, P.O. Box 321453, Cocoa Beach, FL 32932-1453
  • Website: surfingsantas.org

The venue remains the same as Surfing Santas Festival 2022, and it appears that the hosts want to improve last year’s experience without making too many changes in terms of location.

Final Thoughts

The Surfing Santas Festival is always a blast, and this is something the organizers have made sure. Cocoa Beach is the place to go for anyone who wants to celebrate the spirit of Christmas and enjoy it to the fullest.

Keep in mind that the Surfing Santas Festival is more than an event. Every year, the Surfing Santas Festival raises money to donate to the Florida Surf Museum and Grind For Life. As a result, preserving the unique history of surfing in Florida as well as contributing to an even greater cause and helping cancer patients fight and win.

James Davis

Written by James Davis

I'm a true California local, and I've spent my life riding the waves along our stunning coastline. Surfing has always been my greatest love, and in my writing, I try to capture its genuine essence. My words aim to transport you into the heart of the surf culture, where the ocean and surfers come together in perfect harmony.

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