DANA POINT, CA
Surfing Santa Competition November 21, 2015
PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP CENTER: MATT BURT; THE RITZ-CARLTON, LAGUNA NIGUEL; TOM SERIO; ISTOCKPHOTO; ROBERT DENNIS
At Southern California’s Surfing Santa Competition, surfers dress up like Kriss Kringle, plucky reindeer, and Christmas elves as they paddle for the best waves and vie for the biggest air. Hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, the event benefits Surfers Healing, a charity that hosts free surf camps for autistic children and their families. (surfingsantacontest.org)
ITHACA, NY
Ithaca Ice Festival: National Ice Carving Competition December 10–12, 2015
Watch world-class ice sculptors armed with chisels, chain saws, and blowtorches test their skills at this competition. Working downtown at Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian mall, the artists have been known to transform enormous blocks of ice into flying reindeer, angels, and even a larger-than-life praying mantis while spectators cheer them on. (downtownithaca.com)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade December 12, 2015
During this floating fete—now in its 44th year—a 12-mile stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway morphs into a runway for a flotilla of 100-plus kayaks, sailboats, barges, motorboats, and mega-yachts decorated with holiday dazzle. This year’s Fairy Tales Afloat theme means Santa will mix it up with mermaids, dragons, and sugar-plum fairies. (winterfestparade.com) HGTV Magazine 95
