I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate, and a wonderful day off for those who don’t. I wrote a few weeks ago about things you didn’t know about Christmas on Curacao. The last point on the list was the island-wide annual Santa Run. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to join Curacao’s Santa Run for the first time and it was so fun and memorable. If you’re on the fence about visiting Curacao over Christmas, let this convince you!

About the Santa Run

Curacao’s Santa Run has taken place for 7 years now and has become a tradition for residents and visitors alike. While you can run the 5K, as many people do for the coveted first place trophy, most participants take a leisurely stroll while chatting with friends and family.

There is a participation fee of 35 ANG (about $20 USD) which includes entry, a santa suit, and a wristband guaranteeing entry into the afterparty at Madero Beach Club. The Santa Run Association donates a portion of the fee to help feed communities in need on the island.

The run this year started at Rif Fort Village in Otrobanda and continued across the iconic Queen Emma swinging bridge through the colorful streets in Pietermaai. From there, the path was a straight shot walking with the ocean on my right side until Mambo Beach was in sight.

Pre-Santa Run

The Santa Run this year took place on Saturday, December 23rd. My partner and I arrived at the Rif Fort Village around 7:00 PM to a cacophony of people dressed up in santa suits, many of whom took the extra step of bedazzling their suits with lights. Around this time, there was a “warm-up” of zumba taking place on the stage at Rif Fort with all the santas. Seeing as we’re not zumba people, my partner and I headed to the Five o’Clock Somewhere bar for some pre-run margaritas.

Once we were warm and fuzzy, we headed back toward the fort to see even more santas gathering by the entrance. Snow machines were blowing soap bubbles and kids were running around singing Christmas songs – it was a lovely sight! At 8:15 PM the countdown started and everyone came together to shout “three, two, ONE” before setting off toward the Queen Emma Bridge.

The Festive Walk Begins

Throughout the walk we passed by local families and friends cheering from the sidelines saying “Bon Pasku!” and “Ho ho ho!” Kids were spraying canned snow up at the sky so it felt as if we were walking in a (warm) winter wonderland. The walk was set at a relaxed pace and every now and again we would walk by houses and cars playing Christmas music to keep the energy up.

A Sweet Break

About 30 minutes into the walk, we were led toward local fine dining restaurant, Nultwintig, for a festive break. There was a mini-stage set up with a electronic-version of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas blasting along with the snow foam machine. The restaurant staff were kind enough to offer brownies and little shots of Schrobbelèr, a dutch herbal liqueur. This mid-way break was just what we needed to revamp our holiday energy for the remaining 30 minutes of the event.

The Finish Line

The remainder of the path goes through Pietermaai’s local neighborhoods straight to Mambo Beach. We encountered beautiful festive lights and colorful Christmas trees through the windows as well as family members poking their heads out the windows to wave hi.

I should mention, this is the first year the walk has been this long and ending at Mambo Beach. Last year, the walk looped around through Otrobanda and stayed primarily within the downtown area. This year, the walk ended at Mambo Beach at Madero Beach Club, the trendy beachfront party space known for their ragers on the weekends.

The end of the walk was a bit anticlimactic, if I’m being honest! There was no “official” finish line only the mass of santas walking through to Madero (they weren’t even checking wristbands). Drinks weren’t free and most of the santas disbanded and formed into their own groups with loud upbeat music playing in on the stage. The MC tried his best to keep the energy up, but I think people were tired after walking an hour! The Santa Run concluded with a spectacular fireworks display on the beach and a cheer of “Merry Christmas” to everyone.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the Santa Run was a great event to get ready for the Christmas holiday. The event is made for friends, couples, families, and even solo travelers who want to partake in a beloved island tradition. The atmosphere is very much wholesome, joyful, and festive! I would highly recommend visiting Curacao in December if you’re looking to celebrate Christmas in the Caribbean.

P.S. We spent Christmas day on the beach – the beach clubs were open and the drinks were flowin’ 🙂

What are the Christmas traditions where you’re from? Does your city have a Santa Run?