There are holiday traditions. And then there’s Surfing Santas, a colorful, free Christmas Eve event that’s just about the Space Coast-iest tradition one could imagine. In this annual charity gathering (in surfing legend Kelly Slater’s hometown of Cocoa Beach, no less) hundreds of Santas make a literal splash in the Atlantic as thousands of onlookers, […]
There are holiday traditions. And then there’s Surfing Santas, a colorful, free Christmas Eve event that’s just about the Space Coast-iest tradition one could imagine.
In this annual charity gathering (in surfing legend Kelly Slater’s hometown of Cocoa Beach, no less) hundreds of Santas make a literal splash in the Atlantic as thousands of onlookers, many also in holiday garb, too, cheer them on.
It’s like witnessing a festive fashion show spilling out into the ocean: Everyone aboard a board, 800 or more, struts their stuff in this Claus for a cause, taking to the watery runway in outfits ranging from full red and white regalia to a simple Santa hat and bikini.
Ho, ho, ho, who wouldn’t go for that?
People from around the world know about Surfing Santas 15 years after it was born, through viral videos and word of mouth from tourists who’ve gone back home sharing the joy of what they saw on Cocoa Beach.
And the seasonal cheer Surfing Santas evokes comes back to Brevard in important ways: Merchandise sales (dubbed Santa Swag!) along with donations generated by the event support the Florida Surf Museum and Grind for Life, a local nonprofit that helps cancer patients get to and from medical treatments. Over the years, organizers have raised a sack full of dough, more than $100,000, for those entities.
How and when did Surfing Santas take off?
The tradition took off in 2009 when George Trosset, in a Santa suit and beard made from a blanket, and his son George Jr., in an elf costume, went surfing on Christmas Eve. The next year, friends showed up, too — and it snowballed (pun very much intended) from there.
Trosset, a Rockledge resident, is thrilled with what’s transpired since then.
“I’m just proud it’s become a tradition for many, and I’m proud that it’s turned into what it is,” Trosset told the crowd as he accepted the 2023 Citizen of the Year honors at FLORIDA TODAY’s annual Volunteer Recognition Awards.
“I like to say Surfing Santas makes people smile, and I’m proud of that.”
Ready to get on board with — or watch — these hard-charging Santas? And, as organizers say, share love, joy and hope on the beach?
The 2024 celebration runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 at 3 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Official opening at 7:30 a.m. includes an invocation and “mele kaliki maka,” followed by an 8 a.m. performance by The Mighty Flea Circus Band. The first round of costume judging is at 8:30 a.m., followed by a second round at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., it’s Santa photo ops, and at 10 a.m., Santas go surfing. Hawaiian dancers perform at 10:15 a.m., followed by a second performance by the Mighty Flea Circus at 10:45 a.m.
For information: surfingsantas.org.
Britt Kennerly is education/breaking news/Style editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Kennerly at 321-917-4744 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly
