Surfing Santas will not be returning to the water at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills this December, according to organisers

Hundreds of people usually congregate at Bonny Hills to witness around 40 surfing Santas take to the water in late December.

The annual festive event brings Santas of all sizes and ages each year, including a few canines dressed in their best festive attire.

Photo gallery: Surfing santas at Rainbow Beach in 2019

Event organiser Jeremy Bate, from the Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club, said he'd been hosting the event for several years and each year was a fun gathering.

"We were just worried about the COVID-19 stuff and even though it has always been a pretty low key thing, it's like so many events this year which have been cancelled," Mr Bate said.

"It's typically held in the closest weekend or Sunday to Christmas and I think we had about 120 people in the water last year.

"My concern is that we can't monitor that social distancing of 1.5 metres apart in the water, so we'll have to catch everyone next year instead.

"It brings the community together for no set purpose. It's just a get together and a bit of fun."

The event has previously garnered support from Mid North Coast Girls Surfriders, Mal de Mer longriders club and local residents

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