A 30-foot tree built from 52 surfboards will light up the Virginia Beach oceanfront starting Nov. 20, kicking off a stretch of holiday programming at Atlantic Park that includes a Grinch who shows up on Sundays and a Santa Claus who paddles out with surfers in December. The development is rolling out a packed schedule of recurring weekly events, hotel deals, and beachside amenities meant to carry visitors through New Year's Eve.
The season opens with Light the Lineup, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring holiday lights, a pop-up bar, cocoa, shopping, fire pits and festive music. That same night marks the debut of the surfboard tree, which according to Wavepool Mag is scheduled to stay lit through Dec. 31. As WAVY.com reports, the holiday season will kick off on Nov. 20 with the lighting of the tree alongside a Cocoa Crawl.
Cocoa Crawl Returns Friday Nights Through Mid-December
The Cocoa Crawl is set to run Friday evenings from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18, with cocoa-inspired stops at businesses, per Wavepool Mag. WAVY.com describes it as an opportunity for sipping and shopping. It's one of several recurring formats planned for the season: character visits are slotted for weekends, while storytime sessions fill Thursday nights.
Around the surf beach itself, Atlantic Park plans to roll out fire pits, heaters, lounge chairs, private cabanas, seasonal drinks, and Santa photo opportunities on select dates, turning the area into what the Wavepool Mag report calls a holiday getaway. Beach passes are required for admission, the outlet notes.
Santa and the Grinch Settle Into Weekend Shifts
Starting Nov. 28, The Sweet Spot at Atlantic Park is scheduled to host Santa on Saturdays and the Grinch on Sundays, both from 3 to 5 p.m. WAVY.com reports that visitors can meet Santa on Saturdays and the Grinch on Sundays, from 3 to 5 p.m., beginning Nov. 28. On Thursdays, the outlet's report notes, Santa will hold storytime with hot chocolate and cookies, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Surf With Santa Hits the Water in December
Santa isn't just posing for photos this year. Atlantic Park Surf is offering exclusive Surf with Santa sessions on select dates in December, according to the surf operator's event listing. A $100 gift card giveaway is planned for each weekend of the sessions, the listing states.
The holiday push extends into lodging as well. The Sitio's Home for the Holidays package starts at $349 per night for a three-night stay and includes continental breakfast, a $50 credit, and noon checkout, per Wavepool Mag's reporting. A pricier option, the Ultimate Holiday Hangout package, starts at $549 per night for the hotel's Bunk Suite and comes with welcome cocktails, a charcuterie board, and reserved space in The Sunroom.
A Holiday Season at the Oceanfront Development
Atlantic Park opened in August 2025. Sources differ slightly on its footprint: WAVY.com describes it as covering more than 10.2 acres of surfing, shopping, working, and live entertainment at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, while Wavepool Mag characterizes it as a 10-acre development. Either way, the venue is positioning the surf beach and surrounding retail as a cold-weather draw rather than a strictly summer destination.
Beyond the scheduled events, Atlantic Park says it will offer surfing with Santa sessions, holiday surf bundles, gift cards, special hotel packages, and holiday shopping, dining, and drinks throughout the season, according to WAVY.com's report. Those interested in booking or confirming details are directed to atlanticparksurf.com for more information.
