Alexandria’s Waterskiing Santa Calls for Volunteers
The 41st annual Christmas Eve show needs wakeboarding reindeer, dock elves and boat crews. Here’s how to pitch in and where to watch along the Old Town waterfront.
Nov. 15, 2026 | ALEXANDRIA, VA — Santa has a few openings on his Christmas Eve crew in Alexandria. It helps if you can wakeboard, bring a boat or pull off an elf costume.
The 41st annual Waterskiing Santa Show starts at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, on the Old Town waterfront. Families watch from shore as Santa skis across the Potomac and costumed reindeer ride behind boats. Past shows have featured flying elves, Frosty in a dinghy and a Grinch on a jet ski.
In 1986, a group of friends drew straws to see who would ski down the Potomac in a Santa suit. “I drew the short straw,” the original skier, known as Santa Emeritus, told The Washington Post in 2016. He came back the next year, and the stunt grew into an all-volunteer Christmas Eve show. Different skiers have taken a turn in the red suit over the years, and keeping the identity of the person on skis a secret is part of the fun.
Volunteers organize and perform the show. In past years, the Alexandria Fire Department’s fireboat has helped with on-water safety.
How to volunteer
Organizers are looking for five wakeboarding reindeer to ride behind one boat and four more to ski with Santa. They also need riders for waterboards, hydrofoils, kneeboards and tubes. The acts will depend on who volunteers.
On the dock, volunteers can play elves or other holiday characters, and organizers have costumes ready. The show also needs ski and wakeboard boats, a large pontoon boat for the camera crew and a volunteer to coordinate boats by VHF radio.
Want to help? Email [email protected] and tell the crew which role interests you or what kind of boat you can provide.
When to arrive and where to watch
Aim to arrive by 12:30 p.m. to find a spot before the 1 p.m. show. In previous years, the Grinch has taken to the river about 15 to 20 minutes before Santa.
Waterfront Park, at the foot of King and Prince streets, is a good first stop. Spectators have also watched from the Alexandria City Marina, Founders Park and Point Lumley Park. The marina is at the foot of Cameron Street, Founders Park is at 351 N. Union St. and Point Lumley Park is at the foot of Duke Street.
In past years, families have stayed after the show to take pictures with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer.
