Which evening should you be on the porch at 4:30? In Surfside Beach, the answer depends on your street. For three nights in December, the Surfside Beach Fire Department will drive Santa through town on a big red fire truck. Each night covers a different set of blocks, and the Town of Surfside Beach has published every turn.
The rest of the town's December 2026 calendar works the same way. A free trolley runs past decorated houses. The Christmas Tour of Homes takes visitors inside them. The parade ends at Poplar Drive, and the Santa Crawl moves by golf cart. Most of the month takes place on residential streets or at Memorial Park, at the corner of Surfside Drive and N Willow Drive. Most of it costs nothing. If you live here, where your house sits decides how much of the season comes to your door.
The Three Fire Truck Nights
Santa's runs are scheduled for Monday, December 7, Wednesday, December 9 and Friday, December 11. Each runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and admission is free. The town says to watch for a candy cane or two from the big guy.
The town's route list is written as turn-by-turn directions. The table below groups the main streets each night covers. The town's page has the complete list:
| Night | Starts | Main streets on the route | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., Dec. 7 | 5th Ave. N and Poplar Dr. | 7th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th avenues North; Dogwood, Cedar, Poplar, Cherry and Spruce drives; a stretch of Business 17 and N. Ocean Blvd. | Cherry Dr. and 6th Ave. N |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | 5th Ave. N and Poplar Dr. | Poplar south, then Pine, Cherry, Cedar, N. Hollywood, Myrtle, S. Willow, Oak, Dogwood, N. Ocean and Pinewood; 1st, 2nd and 3rd avenues North; 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th avenues South; Lakeside | The fire station |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | 6th Ave. S and Poplar Dr. | Poplar, several numbered avenues South, Juniper, Cypress, S. Willow, Maple, Dogwood S., Cedar S., Lakeside, Sparrow, Melody, Ocean Blvd., Surfside Dr., Myrtle Dr. N, 5th Ave. N and N. Hollywood | The fire station |
The Monday route stays in the north end, among the numbered avenues North between Poplar and the ocean. On Wednesday the truck moves into the middle of town and the first avenues South. Friday's route covers the southern streets around Sparrow, Melody and Lakeside, then loops back north on Surfside Drive and Myrtle Drive. A few streets, such as Dogwood, Cedar and Lakeside, show up on more than one night. The full order of turns is on the town's event page, so you can work out roughly when the truck will reach your block.
Memorial Park Frames the Month
The fire truck nights fall between two events at the same park. The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is Thursday, December 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Park, with Christmas music, lights, treats and holiday activities.
The park stays busy through mid-month. The town's Holiday Farmers Market runs Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park, with dates listed through December 15. That last market falls on the same day as the Christmas Movie in Memorial Park, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The town asks families to bundle up and bring a blanket. On December 15 the park hosts the market during the day and the movie in the evening, with a short gap in between.
Inside the Houses on Sunday, December 6
The Christmas Tour of Homes runs Sunday, December 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. The town describes it as an evening touring the insides of decorated homes around the community, and it lists Surfside Drive as the event location.
Tickets are $25 and limited. They're sold in person at Salty Mermaid Home Decor and Boutique, 816 3rd Avenue South. Proceeds go to two local causes, J&P Treasures and Limbs for Life. The tour is the one ticketed event on the town's December calendar, and the money stays with local nonprofits.
The Parade Ends Where the Santa Routes Begin
The Surfside Beach Christmas Parade starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 12. It begins at Melody Lane, heads north on Ocean Boulevard, then turns left onto Surfside Drive and runs to Poplar Drive. Poplar is the street where all three fire truck runs start, so the parade and the Santa nights share the same few blocks of town.
The town's event page lists road closures on Melody Lane, south Poplar Drive, south Ocean Boulevard and Surfside Drive. For a sense of scale, WMBF's coverage of the 2025 parade listed last year's closures. Melody Lane closed from Highway 17 to Ocean Boulevard South, Ocean Boulevard South closed from Melody Lane to Surfside Drive, Surfside Drive closed from Ocean Boulevard South to Poplar, and adjoining side streets closed too.
WBTW described the 2025 parade with crowds lining the streets. The lineup included town leadership, dance groups, tiny cars, a mermaid float, the St. James marching band, the police and fire departments, and local businesses.
Joining the parade costs little, and golf carts are welcome. The 2026 parade application sets these terms:
- Registration closes Wednesday, December 2.
- Cars, trucks or walking-group vehicles cost $50 for up to four.
- Golf carts cost $20 for up to four.
- A float costs $785.
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits enter free.
- Someone from each participating business or organization must attend a mandatory meeting on December 10.
- Vehicles need licensed drivers.
- Only soft candy may be thrown.
- No Santa costumes are allowed, though Santa hats are fine.
The costume rule makes sense. The town already has a Santa booked.
The Trolley Runs Through the Neighborhoods
On Thursday, December 17, the free Trolley of Christmas Lights leaves from Memorial Park between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Riders tour the Christmas lights and decorations around Surfside Beach. The town plans three trolleys.
You don't need to register, but registered riders board ahead of walk-ups. The town still doesn't guarantee a seat. If you sign up through the town's trolley registration form, print or screenshot your confirmation and bring it with you.
Whatever residents put up for the fire truck nights in early December will still be lit when the trolley rolls through on the 17th.
Saturday, December 19, by Pancake and by Golf Cart
The last Saturday before Christmas has two events on the town calendar.
- Breakfast with Santa, 9 to 11 a.m. at Golden Egg Pancake House, 415 US-17 Business. Tables are limited, so the town recommends calling ahead at 843-238-4923.
- The Golf Cart Santa Crawl, which wraps up at 4 p.m. It stops at Griffin's Public House, Sundown Restaurant & Sports Bar, Chimichanga Llama and Neal & Pam's, with about 40 minutes at each. Bring at least one Toys for Tots gift for every stop. Decorate yourself and your cart, because the Keep Surfside Beach Beautiful Committee judges both. First, second and third place prizes go out for best outfit and best cart.
If you go to all four stops, you'll donate at least four toys. The full stop list and timing are on the town's crawl event page.
The Month on One Page
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays through Dec. 15 | Holiday Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Memorial Park | Free to browse |
| Thu., Dec. 3 | Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, 4 to 8 p.m. | Memorial Park | Free |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Christmas Tour of Homes, 4 to 7 p.m. | Homes around town, Surfside Drive | $25, sold at Salty Mermaid |
| Mon., Dec. 7 | Here Comes Santa, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | North end route | Free |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | Here Comes Santa, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Central and avenues South route | Free |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | Here Comes Santa, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | South end route | Free |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Christmas Parade, 2 p.m. | Melody Lane to Ocean Blvd. to Surfside Dr. | Free to watch |
| Tue., Dec. 15 | Christmas Movie, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Memorial Park | Free |
| Thu., Dec. 17 | Trolley of Christmas Lights, 5:30 to 9 p.m. | Departs Memorial Park | Free |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Breakfast with Santa, 9 to 11 a.m. | Golden Egg Pancake House | Call 843-238-4923 |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Golf Cart Santa Crawl, until 4 p.m. | Four Surfside restaurants | One Toys for Tots gift per stop |
If you want to take part in December events instead of just watching, two deadlines come before the season starts. Parade entries close December 2. Tour of Homes tickets are limited and sold in person at Salty Mermaid on 3rd Avenue South.
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