Capitola Surfing Santa Arrives

November 25, 2023, 12 p.m.

Main Beach in Capitola Village
Capitola by the Sea, California
cityofcapitola.org

Capitola by the Sea is a surf-crazed village of fun. Surfing Santa and the reindeer arrive by canoe at Capital Beach each year. What a blast! When Christmas rolls around, surfing Santa comes on shore to deliver toys to children on the beach. What a unique and unusual treat!

• 3 hours of free parking downtown through Christmas Day
• Small Business Saturday on Surfin' Santa Day

Capitola's Surfin Santa is Coming to Town

Other holiday events include the Capitola Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Kids line up in the flip flops or bare feet to give Santa a hug and ask him about Christmas. Santa meets the kids, listens to their lists and maybe has a sucker or piece of candy for the child while parents snap away at this totally cool beach Santa event. Surfing Santa with his outrigger canoe and surfboard, arrives on the shores of Capitola Main Beach at 12 noon.

Be sure to bring your camera to capture Santa's wave-riding arrival. And don't forget your wish list! Once Santa has toweled off, he'll settle in his beach chair to hear holiday wishes and have a nice long visit with all the children. The event is free and hosted by the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce.

Once Santa arrives, there's merriment throughout the day at the sun-soaked Capitola beach. In the village you can shop for holiday gifts, or dine beachside at one of the restaurants lining the bay.

The annual event sponsored by the Capitola Chamber of Commerce helps to create the impression that California is the land of sunshine and beaches. Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, it is!

Be sure to wander the Capitola Wharf and maybe fish for free as a holiday treat to yourself. Fishing from California piers is free (no license required) and a bait & tackle shop on the wharf rents poles so you don't have to pack one for your vacation. As for surfing, a beach concession rents surf & body boards so you can try to hang 10 on your Christmas vacation.

Other events in Capitola include the beautiful Begonia Boat Parade & Festival during the summer. Another annual event is  Capitola Art & Wine Festival with over 150 fine artists, 20 Santa Cruz Mountain wineries, gourmet food, entertainment and the beautiful, beach-side setting of Capitola Village-by-the-Sea. Call the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce for more information

When staying in Capitola, you can access the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Roaring Camp Train rides in Felton, and many coastal pleasures outside San Francisco. And for those wanting to see the big cities such as San Jose & San Francisco, they are less than 100 miles distance, making for do-able trips.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.