How Florida Does Christmas
You probably won't find us snacking on chestnuts roasted over an open fire, but you’ll definitely find us gathered ‘round the tree in board shorts or toasting the season poolside with candy cane martinis. Here are just a few more ways we Sunshine Staters celebrate the holidays Florida-style:
WE SURF WITH SANTAS
What started out a decade ago as George Trosset’s family tradition—suiting up in Santa gear and hittin’ the surf on Christmas Eve—has grown into a major Cocoa Beach event. Now, thousands of costumed surfers and spectators make their way to the beach on Christmas Eve donned in various interpretations of Surfing Santa style. And there’s an incentive: A costume contest rewards the most festively dressed with a custom surfboard!
WE BEACH UP OUR TREES
We Floridians appreciate a pine-scented house at Christmas as much as anyone, so we love a traditional tree. However, we may dress them up a bit differently than the rest of the country. Some of us go full beach, deploying a color scheme of turquoise and ecru to evoke water and sand. Others of us sort of pepper our trees with starfish, seashells, turtles and the like. I don’t know about you, but just looking at this tree makes me think, “All is calm, all is bright.”
WE ATTEND BOAT PARADES
Florida has more than 8,000 miles of shoreline and there are approximately one million holiday boat parades each season. From small town events to big city extravaganzas, there's always a floating light show to imbue you with a little Christmas spirit. Check out St. Augustine’s scenic Regatta of Lights, or go for high production values at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s Winterfest Boat Parade (aka The Greatest Show on H2O).
WE SING BY THE SEA
Singing Christmas carols is a beloved tradition all around the globe. On Christmas Eve in Captiva, the little white clapboard church called Chapel By The Sea is strung with colorful lights and the air is filled with merry carolers singing treasured standards. The evening service concludes when worshipers from inside the chapel join those gathered outside, each with a lighted candle, to sing Christmas songs while gulf waves gently lap against the nearby shore. This candlelight singalong has been one of the island’s best-loved events for over 70 years!
OUR CHRISTMAS CARDS LOOK LIKE THIS
We don't mean to brag, but December in Florida is magical. Temps are moderate, humidity is low(er), and there’s always a cool breeze swirling gently around. It’s heaven! While the Christmas cards of many American families feature wool plaid scarves, fuzzy hats or flannel footie pajamas, ours look a little… sandier. Coastal cards, tropical greetings—no matter what you call Florida’s brand of Christmas cards, they inspire recipients everywhere to start shopping airfare.
AND WE SEND THEM FROM CHRISTMAS
For 11 months of the year it’s just a tiny Florida town with a funny name. But come the holidays, the red brick post office of Christmas becomes a destination for Floridians looking to postmark their season’s greetings from the most festive place on earth. Christmas has some fun holiday displays you can see all year ‘round, including a tree, nativity scene and Santa statue. But its most interesting permanent attraction may be Swampy, the world's largest alligator!
WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME
For 40 years, the Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Plant Museum in the Tampa Bay Hotel has put on a festive winter exhibit that brings to life an authentic Victorian Christmas celebration, complete with carolers, trimmed trees and spiced cider. The museum houses the actual furnishings enjoyed by the first guests to ever visit the hotel 130 years ago! You’ll be amazed at the opulence of turn-of-the-century America through the vision of railroad pioneer Henry B. Plant.
