Celebrate with Surfing Santas and Golfing Aliens at 2023’s Quirkiest Christmas Events

From Florida to Washington, see how different states pump up the holidays their own way.

We all love a wholesomesmall - townspeople Christmas display , or afestive Christmas market . But sometimes … well , sometimes you desire to switch things up a lilliputian . possibly that think of a unique holiday train drive , or conform to a forgotten holiday icon . Perhaps you crave a visit to a psychedelic vacation fantasia . Lucky for your highly specific tastes , there ’s almost surely something out there to satisfy your craving for quirk .

From wholesome local tradition to creepy Creole nightmare fuel , these one-year tradition are here to lend variety to your holiday season . You ’ll find surfin ’ Santas and gunslinging snowman , campy enthrall andmythical beasts . And each of these ç delicious events offers a mirror into local culture that will leave you feeling warmer and fuzzier than a werewolf on a bayou Christmas sail that you should absolutely make part of your annual tradition . These are the nation ’s weirdest vacation parties this year .

See psychedelic electric art at Camp Christmas

Lakewood , ColoradoColorado’sCamp Christmasis a tinsel - fueled fever ambition in suburban Denver — giddy , campy , and slightly dreamlike . This year returning to its original locating at Stanley Marketplace observe a least sandpiper at Lakewood Belmar Park , the issue have 15,000 substantial feet of walk - through installment utilise every decoration you could think of , along with several you never would . ThinkBurning ManmeetsMeow Wolfmeets Dr. Seuss , but with a lot more bow , elf , gifts , Greenland caribou , red-hot buttered rum and cattle farm - flavored confect cane .

Behold a giant Christmas tree made of sand

West Palm Beach , FloridaIf any place had a 35 - foot - tall , 700 - ton sand tannenbaum , it would be South Florida . Welcome to Sandi Land , where a massive , sand - sculpted Christmas tree diagram legion every night short shows synchronized with music and jet of water supply from the nearby Centennial Fountain . Sandi has grown over the years , from a slim 400 dozens in 2012 to her current sizing and renown — she ’s even gother own Instagram . Get a good glance of Sandi from the 65 - pes - marvelous Ferris bike billed as her long - lost cousin , then cheep another 100 tons of small sand sculptures spread out about the waterfront throughout the calendar month - longHoliday in Paradise .

Giddyup for a Lone Star Christmas at Santa’s Wonderland

College Station , TexasMarshall Frostbite — a seven - foot - marvellous snowman with candy canes holstered on his hip — has yet to join Frosty and Rudolph in the vacation - character mental lexicon , but he ’s one of the highlights ofSanta ’s Wonderland , which claims to be the large Christmas park in the res publica . Here , you could have yourself a puncher little Christmas as you run across the marshall , take a hayride through a display of over 3 million Inner Light , see an Old West town daze for the holidays , and pose for your Christmas card moving-picture show atop a natural longhorn . You ’ll also meet the Man in Red himself , though his getup count a little dissimilar with a rodeo rider hat and sheeny , Texas - sized belt warp .

Beyond the obligatory petting zoo and live nascence , there ’s also wine-colored taste in a rustic - chic loft , a mechanically skillful dogshit , and a jumbotron in the barn playing around-the-clock vacation picture for when you just want to scrunch up down with a plate of brisket .

Let a stuffed animal cradle you at the Teddy Bear Suite

Seattle , WashingtonSome hoi polloi embellish the halls with boughs of holly . The Fairmont Olympic Hoteldoes it with teddy bears . Their annualTeddy Bear Suiteis filled with closely 100 plush bears ranging from six - inches to six - foot grandiloquent . Short of being cast in a remaking of The Shining , it ’s your secure luck of nuzzle with a giant teddy bear atop a four - placard in a luxe hotel . And if that ’s not enough to enjoy your inner nipper ( or the literal ones you might fetch with you ) , the whole plaza looks direct out of Frozen : walls clothe in bloodless , icicle , ornaments , and ash gray garlands everywhere . Any contribution given at the free cuddle - fest benefit the Seattle Children ’s Hospital .

Watch Santa jump from a helicopter into the ocean

Cocoa Beach , FloridaSanta is n’t all about hanging stocking , it seems . He also likes to hang 10 … at least at Surfing Santas . Maybe it ’s Cocoa Beach ’s ordinary wintertime temp of 70 degrees or being home to the world ’s large surf store , but this beach townsfolk kick off the vacation every year withhundreds of surfing Santas . And if that sounds too humdrum , there are also Santas on jet skis , free boogie board , and jumping out of helicopters into the sea . Be sure to wear something festive — most of the 10,000 watcher do , and those costume certainly make the excellently bibulous breakfast snack bar extra colourful .

Wear your PJs on the original Polar Express Train Ride

Durango , ColoradoWhat do you get when you cross a darling child ’s book with an former Colorado railing township ? If you respond the most adorably nostalgicholiday drive of your life , you ’d be right . Every winter , the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carry passenger aboard a vintage steam locomotor to the North Pole forThe Polar Express ™ Train Ride . While there are more than 30Polar Expresstrains around the country , this one is the original , recreating the story experience in good order down to the golden ticket and saltation chef .

It takes about an hour — recommended dress is pajama and snowfall boots — and on the direction , you may observe reenacted prospect from the pic as you nestle up with a warm mug of cocoa . At the North Pole , dazzling with 1000 of lights , Santa boards the gearing to give each passenger the first endowment of Christmas ( IYKYK : it ’s a sleigh bell ) . And then everyone sings carol all the means back to the depot , where you could visit with Santa , tour the free train museum , and meet alive Greenland caribou .

The Most Magnificent Train Rides in America

These train journeys take you through some of the most stunning scenery in the States.

Hunt for elves at the Nisse Adventure

Solvang , CaliforniaYou may have hear of the 12 day of Christmas . What about the 12 nisser concealing in a impulsive California town less than an hour from Santa Barbara ? Under two feet tall , beared , and wearing pointy cap over their eyes , these Danish gnomes are known for sneaking into people ’s house to leave present and play joke , and finding them is a precious tradition forthe Danish - founded city of Solvang .

nibble up a readiness of rhyming clew at the visitor ’s center . Then , once you ’ve successfully located all of the twelve doll , fall to claim your prize : your very own tiny trickster to hang on your tree and fault for any holiday solecism . Thescavenger huntis a pop part of the annualJulefest , which rounds out your experience with music and illumination shows , a parade , candlelight circuit , and more hygge than you’re able to rock a Mentha piperita control stick at .

See what lurks beneath the water on the Creepy Christmas Boat Tour

Bay St. Louis , MississippiAn hour east of New Orleans are the still backwaters make out as the Devil ’s Swamp , a name that already cry “ vacation cheer . ” Also promise the Hancock County Marsh Coastal Preserve , these mist - shrouded and mysterious water are prime habitat for the rougarou , a lycanthrope - like creature from Creole folklore . And every December , he teams up with a villainous Santa—“who sees you when you ’re sleeping”—for a hair - raise ride through the bayou on theCreepy Christmas Boat Tour .

Your usher , Mystic Molly , spin out a macabre holiday fairy tale with riddles , song , and a few character , like Skully , the skull - top Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . There ’s a coffin in the boat , and the surprisal finish is a bit grisly , so maybe allow for the tiddler home for this one unless they ’ve been particularly bad this year . Regroup afterward at the bonfire as you guy s’mores and commune with fellow traveler about the thing you ’ve see to it .

Meet Turbo Man and golf with aliens at Castle Noel

Medina , OhioFilled with century of Christmas pic airscrew , chiliad of toys , and something called Santa ’s Chimney Squeeze , Castle Noelcelebrates the season in the most oversized , exuberant way — and they do it year - round , in type you want to hang out in Whoville or sing Jingle Bells with an animatronic abominable snowman in August .

The artist behind the drawing card , Mark Klaus ( you read that right ) is always adding to his collection , which runs the gamut from Arnold Schwarzenegger ’s Turbo Man suit to the Grinch ’s sledge . A guide read you through it all , include the Barbies and Furbies of the “ I Had That ” toyland exhibit and the luxuriant NYC holiday computer memory windowpane displays , carefully reassembled and set in apparent motion with spinning patty and dancing Nutcracker ballerinas . At the close , twit down a chute on a imitation snow batch just like Ralphie . What ’s in the basement , you wonder ? A fluorescent , 3D mini golf experience that follow Santa and a gaggle of friendly aliens through ancient ruins and out space . Of of course .

Take a river cruise with a famous bear (and some pirates)

Portland , OregonNot every holiday fiber becomes click ( lookin ’ at you , Dominick the Donkey ! ) . But sometimes , becoming an obscure and beloved local icon is enough . And no town love obscure local iconography quite like Portland , Oregon , a metropolis that counts aunicyclistwith flaming - throw bagpipe among its unofficial mascot .

Thus , every year since 2005 , thePortland Spirit river cruisehas made it a holiday tradition to translate its ship into Maybeland , home of the elusive Cinnamon Bear ( real name Paddy O’Cinnamon ) , the star of an old - timey tuner serial . The narrative — and the cruise — involve pirates , fairies , dragons , elves , and other seemingly mismatched characters questing for a Christmas star . They all come together on this undeniably delightful storybook - breathe in cruise along Portland ’s gorgeous Willamette River . As a bonus , the cruise includes breakfast , giving you a prospect to enter in another storeyed Portland tradition : waiting in line for testicle and a pick - me - up .

Surfing Santas of Cocoa Beach