The holiday season in Brevard County is filled with traditions that bring local communities together in fun and creative ways, offering everything from festive parades to beachside celebrations. The obvious fan favorite event is Cocoa Beach’s Surfing Santas, where thousands gather to watch people dressed in Santa costumes surf on Christmas Eve. Satellite Beach’s boat and golf cart parades are where residents come together to see the twinkling lights on the shore or from the river. Neighborhood traditions like Verbenia Court’s vibrant Candy Cane Lane and Twilight Santa Truck add small-town charm, while larger events such as the Light Up Viera Parade, the Nutcracker, and the Kennedy Space Center’s Holidays in Space showcase the area’s holiday spirit. There is even a celebration after Christmas where locals come together again and celebrate with the Long Doggers’ Christmas Tree Bonfire on the beach. Together, these traditions highlight how Brevard County embraces the season with creativity, togetherness, and traditions that locals look forward to year after year.
Surfin’ Santas:
Christmas in Florida looks a little different from the rest of the country. While most people are bundling up in their winter coats, Florida surfers trade snow for saltwater and celebrate the season on the waves. Every year on Christmas Eve morning, one of the state’s most unique holiday traditions takes place – Surfing Santas. As the sun rises, thousands gather on the beach to watch Santas, elves, and others paddle out into the ocean. On shore, the celebration continues with live music, food trucks, festive treats, and fun activities. Visitors come from all over the world to experience this one of a kind Florida holiday experience.
“The event has a very bright atmosphere and every time I go I see a lot of people I recognize from my childhood which makes it a really fun time,” senior Shelby Lynch said.
The tradition began in 2009 when local surfer George Trosset and his son, George Jr., paddled out into the waves dressed as Santa and an elf. What started as a small family activity has brought together local surfers and grown into one of Cocoa Beach’s most beloved community events. Over time, it has evolved into a massive charity celebration, breaking records with more than 8,000 surfers and 10,000 spectators.
Surfing Santas invites people of all ages and skill levels to join in the fun by dressing up in Santa suits and festive costumes to catch waves and spread holiday spirit.
“I really like the Surfing Santa event because all the proceeds go to charity and it’s fun to watch all the surfers in their Santa costumes,” senior Ella Shannon said. Beyond the fun and laughter, the event’s main purpose is to give back. The proceeds support two local charities: The Florida Surf Museum, which preserves Florida’s surfing heritage through exhibits and family-friendly events, and Grind for Life, a nonprofit that helps cancer patients and their families by providing financial assistance.
Over the years, Surfing Santas has raised more than $100,000 for charity, making a real difference in people’s lives. The event has become a symbol of what makes Cocoa Beach special by showcasing how it’s a tight-knit community that knows how to have fun, help others, and celebrate Christmas in its own coastal way.
Grand Canal Boat Parade:
The Grand Canal Boat Parade is one of the area’s most festive holiday traditions, lighting up the Grand Canal with brightly decorated watercrafts of all shapes and sizes – from yachts to kayaks, SUPs, and jet skis. Around mid-December, local boat owners decorate their boats with colorful lights, inflatable characters, and other holiday displays.
Satellite Beach Golf Cart Parade:
The Satellite Beach Holiday Golf Cart Parade is held each December and has become a popular tradition for locals in the community. In the days leading up to the event, families spend time planning and decorating their carts with twinkling lights, wreaths, and other festive touches. The event concludes at the David R. Schechter Community Center with food trucks, music, and the announcement of the winning cart. Judges select the entry that best captures the Christmas spirit.
Light Up Viera:
The annual Light Up Viera Christmas Parade serves as the official kickoff to the holiday season in the community. The event begins with a radiant firework show, followed by a parade that travels down Stadium Parkway to Viera Boulevard, ending near Manatee Elementary School. The parade’s main attraction is the elaborately decorated floats. However, it also consists of high school marching bands, many performers, and local community groups. It has become a beloved tradition for the past 11 years.
Verbania Court:
Also known as Candy Cane Lane, Verbenia Court in Satellite Beach lights up each year with festive decorations, music, and holiday displays along the pathway, drawing visitors each night and creating special memories between families and friends.
Twilight Santa Truck Program:
Started in 1981, the Twilight Santa Truck in Satellite Beach is a long-standing holiday tradition where Santa rides a decorated fire truck through neighborhood streets. With sirens ablare, booming holiday tunes, and the Satellite Beach Fire Department at the wheel, Santa waves to residents and makes sure everyone gets a candy cane.
Nutcracker:
The Nutcracker Ballet is performed in two main venues. First, a community production at Satellite High School, presented by the Brevard Ballet Youth Company. Also a professional version at the Maxwell C. King Center in Melbourne, performed by the Space Coast Ballet Company with principal dancers alongside local community dancers, and live orchestra.
Al’s Christmas Tree Bonfire:
Each January after Christmas, Long Doggers in Indialantic hosts “Al’s Christmas Tree Bonfire” at Nance Park on the beach. Community members bring their live Christmas trees to fuel a giant beach bonfire. The event creates a festive atmosphere and a fun way for locals to celebrate the end of the holiday season together.
Holidays in Space:
Holidays in Space at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex features a nighttime drone show that tells the story of “Starflake” exploring NASA’s missions. The space center is decorated with glowing space-themed lights and displays, making it a very unique holiday event on the Space Coast.
