SURFING SANTAS

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — While the weather outside was frightful Saturday morning, that did not stop the Surfing Santas from riding the waves in Cocoa Beach. Photos: Surfing Santas ride the Cocoa Beach waves in freezing temperaturesExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 34 Surfing Santas ride the Cocoa Beach waves in freezing temperatures While the weather outside was frightful Saturday morning, that did not stop the Surfing Santas from riding the waves in Cocoa Beach. (NPI/Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism/NPI/Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism)The annual event has raised over $300,000 for local nonprofits. Read: Record-breaking cold temperatures Christmas weekend for the first time in 33 yearsNearly 10,000 people came out to support the “Greatest Show on Surf” and raised over $80,000 from T-shirts and raffle tickets. Read: Surfing Santas to brave frigid cold for annual event SaturdayThis tradition dates back to 2009.

Thousands of people braved freezing temperatures in Florida to attend a "Surfing Santas" event that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.

Traditional surfing session held every Christmas Eve

Thirteen years after starting the biggest Christmas party on Cocoa Beach, George Trosset expects Saturday to be coldest Surfing Santas yet.

Surfing Santas typically draws national television coverage with colorful images of costumed surfers joy-riding across a sun-splashed Florida beach — while most of America shivers amid wintry December weather, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Christmas travel season remains in full swing and Orlando International Airport continues to see a record number of travelers going through the gates this year. According to airport officials, Saturday is the 19th busiest day in the holiday travel season. Officials also released an update on the parking situation at OIA as of 7 a.m.Read: In person and online, Christians gather to celebrate Christmas EveThe following parking lots are closed:· North Park Place· South Park Place· Garage A· Garage B· Terminal TopThe following parking lots are open:· West Park Place· Economy OverflowWATCH: Surfing Santas returns to Florida’s Space Coast for 12th yearAirport officials want to remind anyone planning to park at the airport to arrive three hours before their flight. Carpooling or using a rideshare service is highly encouraged to save time. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Crowds of people gathered at Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve to watch as surfers donning their best Santa attire made waves on the Space Coast.

Surfing Santas will once again return to Cocoa Beach after going virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – The tradition of dressing up like St. Nick and hitting the waves continues in Cocoa Beach for the 11th annual Surfing Santa event in Cocoa Beach. “I saw them surfing... Santa Clause,” said Mason, a child watching from the shoreline Thursday morning. The event usually draws tens of thousands of people to the Space Coast and hundreds of surfers from across the globe. Although the event was held virtually this year, hundreds of families still decided to show up and continue their Christmas Eve tradition. But he said the experience is unlike any other with families bringing the Christmas spirit to life.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – On Thursday, organizers of what’s been the largest holiday party on Cocoa Beach the past decade plan to break up the crowds for a change. Thousands traditionally watch hundreds of “Surfing Santas” on Christmas Eve at Coconuts on the Beach. Trosset said the decision to cancel received criticism from Surfing Santas fans who anticipated the full-scale event would go on. “Out of an abundance of caution, we chose not to have a gathering of Santas, but people love Surfing Santas,” Trosset said. They may go to another spot.”Dan Sheehan, from Fort Lauderdale, is in Cocoa Beach for Christmas and said he’ll be surfing Thursday.