Cocoa Beach Draws Hundreds of Christmas‑themed Wave Riders
On Dec. 24, 2025 Cocoa Beach hosted its annual Surfing Santas event, a holiday tradition that blends surfing with festive costumes. The event, first held in 2009, drew a record crowd of more than 12,000 people.
Participants surfed in Santa outfits while spectators watched paragliders and a costume contest featuring Santa, elves, and other holiday characters. A man named Goff Stepien from Daytona Beach caught a wave in Santa costume.
Founder George Trosset said the event spreads holiday cheer throughout the area, and the event received coverage from multiple media outlets.
The event’s popularity has grown each year, adding new attractions such as a surf‑board‑shaped sleigh and a surfing parrot named Spyke.
The 12,000‑strong turnout reflected the event’s status as a major holiday attraction in the region. Local officials noted that safety measures were in place to handle the large crowds, and the 2025 edition highlighted a diverse range of participants, from seasoned surfers to families and children.