Photo courtesy of Waterskiing Santa
(Editor's note: This is a story originally published on Alexandria Living Magazine's website in 2019. See Water-Skiing Santa at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 on Alexandria's waterfront.)
One of Alexandria’s strange-but-fun traditions makes its annual return: The Waterskiing Santa returns to the Potomac River.
What started as a straw-draw has turned into a decades-long annual event.
The story goes, according to the website, “In 1986, a group of friends drew straws to see who would go out and water ski in a Santa Claus suit on Christmas Eve. The one who lost did so, at which time he decided he would do it again next year. In 1987, local news covered the show. While you might say, he initially lost the bet, he definitely won it for the sake of children and families alike. It continues today, after more than 30 years.”
As the show has grown, so has the planning process. Preparations for each year’s show starts the summer before with waterskier sign-up and volunteer sign-ups for “dressers, costumers, decorators, safety personnel and other various roles.” The show has grown large enough to need sponsors — this year, that includes the City of Alexandria, Operation First Response, the Old Dominion Boat Club and several others.
Residents can watch along the Old Town Alexandria waterfront every Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. Look for Santa plus his elves and other characters, possibly including The Grinch.
The best viewing locations are from Founders Park to Point Lumley Park, including Waterfront Park.
After the waterskiing show, Santa is usually available for a brief time for photos with children.
