White sandy Florida Christmas traditions
Christmas looks different around the world. In Florida, it looks like beach weather, Santa in shorts and a tank top, and snowmen made of sand. Florida has many of its own special Christmas traditions. Here are some fun ones that have grown over the years. If you live in Florida or are thinking of visiting this winter, check out some of these Florida Christmas traditions.
Surfing Santas
Every year, Cocoa Beach hosts one of the most fun Florida Christmas traditions of the season. Surfing Santas attracts thousands of Floridians and visitors to watch a bunch of people dressed in Santa suits and holiday attire surf some Christmas Eve waves. Surfers can also participate in a costume contest on the beach. It’s a fun and memorable event for families to enjoy year after year.
The tradition started as a small family day in 2009. It has evolved into a huge event with over 800 surfers,10,000 spectators, and international coverage. The event also raises money for charities!
Sandcastle Christmas tree
The West Palm Beach Great Lawn becomes Sandi Land every December. Families travel to Sandi Land to participate in fun Christmas activities like mini-golf, Christmas movie showings, Polynesian hula shows, and Christmas lights. The main attraction at Sandi Land is the giant sandcastle Christmas tree, Sandi. She’s accompanied by other larger-than-life holiday-themed sandcastles. Of course, Santa visits Sandi Land frequently too. Kids can take photos with him while enjoying the festivities.
The West Palm Beach Green Market is a fantastic farmer’s market near the Great Lawn. Many who come to enjoy Sandi Land also stop by the Green Market.
Christmas boat parades
Florida is a coastal, warm, and sunny state year-round. Florida has the highest number of registered boating vessels in the United States. Many of Florida’s almost 959,000 boats participate in Christmas boat parades during the holiday season. Participating boats often compete to be the most highly decorated, creative, and fun in the parade. Thousands come to spectate and cheer on the lit-up boats as they pass by.
Hundreds of coastal towns host their boat parades every year. Some of the biggest boat parades in Florida include the Key West Schooner Wharf Bar Lighted Boat Parade, South Pasadena Lighted Boat Parade, Bradenton Beach Boat Parade, Boca Raton Boat Parade, and the Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Lighted Boat Parade.
Florida holiday light shows
Like most states in the U.S., holiday lights are a big tradition in Florida. Residents decorate their homes, making driving through some neighborhoods a wonderful tradition. If you want to up your lighting game this year and make your home worth driving by, Blitzen Lighting can install your Christmas lights for you.
Also common in Florida are commercial light shows put on by various organizations. People can either drive or walk through these festive displays to get into the Christmas spirit. Although it’s usually warm in Florida, even during summer, a cup of hot cocoa can make a light show even sweeter. Some popular light shows across Florida include:
- Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa.
- River of Christmas Lights in Tampa with Pirate Water Taxi in Tampa.
- Safety Harbor’s Harbor Holiday Nights.
- Winter Beach St. Pete at St. Pete Pier.
- Holiday Lights & Rides at Largo Central Park.
- The Oakdale Christmas House in St. Petersburg
Christmas beach trips
Christmas is often associated with cold snowy winter vibes. This isn’t reality in Florida. Temperatures are often in the mid 70’s Fahrenheit in December. A tradition for many families living on the coast is to head to the beach on Christmas. You’ll often see Christmas brunches, and dinners right there on the sand. Florida families enjoy the sand and waves on Christmas day and all Christmas season long.
While at the beach on Christmas, you might find Florida-style “snowmen” made from sand and other Christmas-themed sand sculptures along the beach. Some beaches even host sandcastle competitions around Christmas time. There’s so much to enjoy on the coast of Florida all winter long.
Palms instead of pines
You don’t have to have been to Florida to know that palm trees are everywhere there. You’re much less likely to find pine trees, and for this reason, it can be expensive to get one for Christmas. Floridians will sometimes get fake trees or lean into the palm tree theme with lit palm trees all around.
Almost everywhere you go around Christmas, you’ll see palm trees lined with string lights, illuminating neighborhoods, homes, and city streets. If you have palm trees on your property, it can be tricky to put up lights on them. Blitzen Lighting is here to help install Christmas lights on your palm trees, so you don’t have to worry about it.
The bottom line
Christmas time is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition. Florida goes all out with its unique traditions across the state. Floridians and tourists alike enjoy surfing Santas, sandcastle Christmas creations, and holiday light extravaganzas. If you haven’t ever checked out any of these Florida Christmas traditions, we highly recommend putting that on your list of things to do when you’re in town. Remember, if you want to make awesome Christmas lights a tradition without the hassle, hire Blitzen Lighting to install your Christmas lights this year.