Before Santa and his elves get too busy up at the North Pole, they swung by Dana Point to catch some waves, kicking off the holiday spirit on the sand and in the surf.
The 12th annual Surfing Santa and Stand Up Paddle Board contest brought decked-out wave riders to Salt Creek Beach on Saturday, Nov. 18.
The event put on by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel benefits Surfers Healing, a nonprofit that helps kids with autism enjoy beach and surf days across the world, free of charge, including several gatherings in Southern California.
The nonprofit was started in 1996 by pro surfer Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz and his wife Danielle. Learning to surf transformed, they say, the life of their son, Isaiah, who is autistic, and they wanted to share the experience.
The surfing by the “Santas” precedes a tree-lighting ceremony and holiday festivities from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Salt Creek, also hosted by The Ritz Carlton. The Sunday event kicks off with holiday music performances, culinary stations with food offerings and activities such as face painting.
Complimentary cocoa and cookies will be handed out and Santa will make an entrance inside a Woodie-style car before setting up near the 40-foot tree for meet-and-greets and photo ops with kids. There will also be ice princesses and candy cane performances on stilts, ballerinas and hula-hooping elves to kick off the holiday spirit.
The tree lighting on the Dana Lawn overlooking the ocean on Sunday also marks the launch of the Holiday Surfboard Auction, now in its 15th year, which also benefits Surfers Healing. Surfboards will be on display at the Ritz-Carlton through the New Year. Since launching the partnership, the resort has helped raise $500,000 for the nonprofit.
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