COOL SANTA SURFS HIS WAY INTO TOWN
SANTA has opted for boardshorts and thongs to help get him through another sweltering Gold Coast summer.
And his reindeer have been replaced by more suitable kangaroos as Santa’s Summer Grotto in Surfers Paradise celebrates all things Aussie this Christmas.
Sanctuary Cove local Carla Hammond visited Santa at Cavill Mall with her daughter Halle, 5, and said it was exciting to see something other than the traditional Santa at a shopping centre.
“We loved the Aussie Santa,” she said.
“It’s great to see Santa embracing our Aussie traditions and being among the sand and summer.
“Halle loved Santa’s surfboat sleigh and thought his boardshorts were great.”
Santa is more than happy to pose for photos in the lead-up to Christmas.
Surfers Paradise Alliance chief executive officer Mike Winlaw said the Aussie theme created a uniquely Gold Coast Christmas experience.
“We get so many international visitors and it really was about the photo opportunity, for them to take a pic to send back home to family and it’s a fun, unique set-up,” he said.
Santa will pose for photos tomorrow (10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm) and on Saturday (10am-1pm) and Sunday (10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm).
A carols concert featuring local artists will be staged on Christmas Eve from 6.30pm to 8pm and will be followed by a fireworks display.