December 17, 2023

HO! HO! HO! On Sunday, December 17th, head over to Ventura Harbor Village for the Santa Paddle. Santa himself will ditch his reindeer and hop on a paddleboard, and you can be a part of the adventure by renting a kayak, SUP, or character pedal boat from Ventura Boat Rentals. Participants are encouraged to get into the holiday spirit by dressing up as Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, or any other holiday character!

Don’t have anything festive to wear to the paddle? Here are some last minute ideas: Hats Unlimited has a great variety of holiday-themed hats, from festive elf accessories and holiday trees that light up, to classic Grinch and Santa hats. Lost in Socks has a wide selection of holiday socks. Plus, holiday-themed Hawaiian shirts at Ventura Swimwear! Browse local Village shops to complete our Santa Paddle look.

Santa is scheduled to make his appearance around 2pm, so we recommend arriving a bit early to secure your rentals from Ventura Boat Rentals, which you can find on C Dock in Ventura Harbor Village, down on the dock below Brophy Bros. and On the Alley restaurants. After a group photo on the water, Santa will lead a festive procession from Ventura Boat Rentals through the marina to the Channel Islands National Park Visitors Center and back. Please wear a life vest on the water and adhere to water safety at all times. Ventura Boat Rentals also has life vests available for rent.

After the Santa Paddle, you can continue your festivities by enjoying holiday tunes by DJ Bennett until 4pm, waterfront dining, and support local shops with great gift finds at Ventura Harbor Village. It’s a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping .