Santa Claus in the Washinton suburb of Alexandria, not by sleigh or in a parade, but on waterskis towed by a power boat chopping the cold water of the Potomac River.
In a tradition that started in 1986, Santa showed up to the town across the river from the US capital dressed in an original costume and accompanied by a reindeer, also on waterskis, a yeti, and the Grinch, according to posts on social media.
The stunt began when an Alexandria-based office supplies salesman was brainstorming with his friends at a holiday party and decided it would be funny if them water-skied down the Potomac in a Santa suit.
The first one to do it refers to himself only as "Santa Emeritus." Everyone in on the gag remains anonymous, according to the Washington Post.
Despite a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius, the group of water-skiers put on a show that in previous years included flying elves, Frosty the Snowman, toy soldiers and other Christmas characters on jet skis. The event draws hundreds of spectators to the riverbank.
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Santa Emeritus passed his duty to another waterskier in 2011 and handed over the event's organising duties to "Papa Noel" who told the Post he begins putting the show together in July.
The organisation includes overseeing the all-volunteer event and making sure they pull off the finale of reindeer waterskiing beside Santa.
