The Surf-N-Santa 5 Miler is an absolute blast and a spectacle to behold. Like most other “Santa” races, participants are provided the full costume as part of the entry, but VB’s version offers a course through the Boardwalk’s “Holiday Lights at the Beach.” Growing up, my family used to drive this path each year, so it was pretty fun to experience it on foot with a bunch of festive friends.

The course is entirely flat and was very easy to follow, and volunteers/supporters were peppered throughout to offer aid and encouragement along the way. Water stations were suitable for the distance, and the administrative aspects (registration, check in, tracking/timing, etc.) were all pretty convenient. The standout items were definitely related to the atmosphere. It wasn’t particularly competitive - people were there to have fun. The Santa suits, the lights, the music, the mid-race gingerbread cookies - everything you could hope for in a theme run like this.

The post-race celebration was lively and welcoming. There was plenty of food and drink options, good music, and only a handful of vendors.

Overall, this is a fun race and an awesome community event. I haven’t found my way down for the race since 2017, but I definitely intend to run it again once the kiddos are juuuust a bit older. I highly recommend to anyone local and to those interested in visiting the city in the off season (it’s more than just a beach town).