Watch Surfing Santas at Fort Pierce North Jetty Christmas Eve morning

This might be the most Christmas-in-Florida thing ever.

The Fort Pierce Surfing Santas will return to the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park to catch waves and entertain crowds on Christmas Eve morning.

It's the only event of its kind on the Treasure Coast. Fort Pierce residents Laura Smith and Derek Stalhut started the event in 2024.

"We do it because we love our little surf community and want to share the stoke," Smith said.

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The couple was inspired by the longtime Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach, which started as a fun family outing in 2009 and grew to over 800 surfers and nearly 10,000 spectators, according to its website.

Every year, surfers of all ages and skill levels get decked out in their most festive holiday gear and hit the water in Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve.

Smith and Stalhut went to the 2023 event, but the drive was far for them. So, the next year, they invited their friends to the Fort Pierce North Jetty to dress up and surf while other friends and family watch from the beach.

The couple even bought 70 Santa hats with sewed-on chin straps to give out to surfers who didn't have costumes — and they ran out of them.

"It was heartwarming seeing everyone getting together and all the kids playing on the beach and surfing in the white water," Smith said. "It was truly amazing."

Fort Pierce Surfing Santas

• When:9 a.m. to noon Dec. 24

• Where:Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, 905 Shorewinds Drive

• Cost:$6 admission per vehicle for up to eight people; $4 per single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists or extra passengers

• Details:Bring your own Santa hats and suits, plus food to share

Laurie K. Blandford  is TCPalm's  entertainment reporter  dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at  laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com . Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at  tcpalm.com/newsletters .

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce Surfing Santas event at North Jetty on Christmas Eve 2025