Change up your holiday traditions with lobster traps, tumbleweeds, and death-defying Christmas feats.
For many people , Christmas is a holiday built around a long ton of tradition . Christmas light tours , caroling , aChristmas market , eggnog , atrain ride , assemble around the tree to open gifts , or maybe even afamily ski trip . While some people care to pore on familiar holiday tradition , there are plenty of others who pride themselves on thinking outside the ( gift ) box , reverse the classics , deprave the hyper - commercial holiday self-love , blazing newfangled trail into the weird and wacky side of the holiday canyon .
From rock climbing Santas to a tree diagram made of kegs , here are the eldritch Christmas traditions , fete , and events in the United States .
Scuba Diving Santa in New Jersey
Camden , New JerseyOngoing through December 24Sometimes you go to New Jersey to see motion-picture photography locating ofThe Sopranos . And other times , it ’s in avocation of the Christmas Underwater show at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden , New Jersey .
Christmas Underwater feature a diver wearing a Santa causa , also known as Scuba Santa , greeting families and lay for photo perfect for your Christmas carte . He ’ll also be swim with sharks , sea turtles , and rays on his daily dives , according to the aquarium’swebsite .
Lobster Trap Tree
Stonington , ConnecticutOngoing through January 5New England has a lot going on in the winter . There are coke - scatter forests , arctic bouldered coastline , and the classic good luck charm of going to see ya matha for the holiday . Mix that up with its culinary champion , lobster rolls , and you get the Lobster Trap Tree . And while we love to detest on Connecticut , you ’ll find this tree diagram is a not bad reason to take the journeying out to Stonington in The Nutmeg State .
The tree will be up from November 23 to January 5 , so there ’s plenty of meter to go see this temporary landmark dedicated to the local fishing industriousness . It stretch to some 35 base tall and is made up of not only lobster traps but also buoy , lights , and thousands of energy ties .
This year the tree is dedicated to Daniel Crotty Sr . , a long - running supporter of the Lobster Trap Tree who drop dead away in October 2024 .
Mindy Schauer/Orange County Register/Getty Images
“ For the first 3 days [ of the tree ’s existence ] he lovingly clear - coat all of the buoys at no tutelage at his auto body mending shop class in Charlestown , RI , Crotty and Sons Bodyworks . This ask him shutting down his business for 2 days and set up an elaborate stand system that he design to twirl the buoys and thoroughly cover them with a commercial-grade grade UV protectant , ” readsthe website ’s statementabout Crotty . “ Dan had a deep appreciation for the nontextual matter and truly admired the metre and natural endowment that went into creating every buoy . ”
Surfing Santa
Dana Point , CaliforniaDecember 1California ’s ticket of different , mostly warm mood lends itself well to a non - traditional Christmas experience . you may observe a Cactus Christmas tree in the desert and assay out the newestmega - ski - resortin the batch , and on Sunday December 1 , Santa is taking to the wave . Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point , California , is abode to the now 14 - year - old tradition of locals grabbing their fine Santa - theme kit and competing with their good surfing and stand up boat paddle boarding moves .
Supporting this wacky Christmas tradition also supports a good cause . Money raised by this effect benefits Surfers Healing , a surfboarding camp pitch toward children with autism .
Rappelling Santa
Chimney Rock , North CarolinaDecember 2 and 9Santa is a multi - sport athlete — how else would he be able to deliver so many present tense in one night ? Before rise down the lamp chimney of kinfolk across the nation , Santa makes a stop at Chimney Rock State Park in Chimney Rock , North Carolina to practice his origin .
On December 2 and 9 you’re able to check out that training regiment and look on Old St. Nick abseil down all 315 metrical foot of Chimney Rock . His journeys will commence at 11:30 a.m. , 12:30 p.m. , and 1:30 p.m. on both days . And if you ’ve seen enough of Santa ’s death - defying stunts there are plenty ofsightseeingspots around the state from Asheville to Nantahala National Forest .
Genesee Brewery Keg Tree
Rochester , New YorkOngoing from December 6A beautiful , C - cap cause through the fields of upstate New York is a grand way to get into the vacation spirit . You might even get yourself at somehidden gemslike the Washington County Grasslands Important Bird Area in Fort Edward or the Corning Museum of Glass .
For a Christmas - specific , and beer - themed , obscure precious stone look no further than Rochester ’s Genesee Brewery Keg Tree , now in its tenth year . unite spectators on December 6 for the ceremony to fall up the tree made of 650 empty beer kegs and 25,000 lights . You ’ll find euphony , food trucks , and even a special Ceylon cinnamon tree version of the Genesee Cream Ale made special for the event , called Keg Tree Ale .
TubaChristmas
Kansas City , Missouri and around the worldDecember 6 and 16 , and other date depending on locationYou’ve get a line the classic Christmas carols , the wireless stations playing Rockin ’ Around the Christmas Tree one too many times , and so much Mariah . But have you pick up them … on the bass horn ?
The Kansas City orchestra offers a free TubaChristmas issue at the Kauddman Center for the Performing Arts on December 6 and 16 , where C of local tuba and euphonium players will perform their hearts out for you without the familiar comforts of strings and vocals .
The first TubaChristmas accept place in 1974 at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City before the tradition migrated to Kansas City in 1979 , according to the symphony ’s internet site . Every yr since it ’s bring over 500 sousaphone and euphonium players across multiple generations to play for local audience .
Photo courtesy of Adventure Aquarium
TUBACHRISTMASis also a national aesthesis , with localization for tuba player to participate in show all over the country , but tuba is always the name of the game .
Tumbleweed Christmas Tree
Chandler , ArizonaOngoing from December 7Sunny , distinctly un - wintery Chandler , Arizona extend up another off - the - beat - path holiday tradition : the tumble weed Christmas tree .
December 7 marks the official gap of the 35 - invertebrate foot - marvellous Tumbleweed Tree , and it ’s marked with a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree kindling ceremony followed by a parade . Expect a Christmas - y fete with all the fixins : pumpkin pie , peppermint mochas , gingerbread houses , and more .
harmonise to locallore , this custom began in 1956 or ‘ 57 , when a fire destroyed all the Christmas medal in Chandler . Without another avenue for holiday decoration , the town turned to tumbleweed and a custom was born . Past the lore , news articles target towards an origin storey with a little less dramatic play , according to the metropolis ’s website .
Flickr/Matthew Bellmare
A reckless public service update to the light terminal in Downtown Chandler led to them being too weak to bear up the string of colourise lights that were commonly used for the town ’s ribbon . Bill Wilson , the handler of the J.C. Penney in Chandler and winner of the late twelvemonth ’s item-by-item holiday beautify competition , was asked to make a raw ornamentation program . Earle Barnum , the town interior designer , work with Wilson and came up with the mind for the tumbleweed tree diagram . It was a few geezerhood before it earned its title as the Great Tumbleweed Tree , but hey , not just anyone can make it in the militant creation of novelty Christmas Tree .
Photo courtesy of Chimney Rock Park
Flickr/mckinney75402
