The Kentucky Christmas Celebration Where You Can Visit With A Scuba Diving Santa

Old Kris Kringle is one magical elf. We all know that he visits every single child around the world on Christmas Eve, but that's not the only trick up Mr. C's sleeve. For instance, did you know Santa could scuba dive? It's true! Each holiday season, Santa swaps his boots for scuba flippers and takes to the (shark-infested) waters at Newport Aquarium in Kentucky, and it's a Christmas celebration truly unlike any other!

In Northern Kentucky, the Newport Aquarium is a place that puts the wild, wonderful world of the ocean and its underwater inhabitants front-and-center, quite literally within reach.

The Aquarium is known for its world-class exhibits that include everything from loggerhead turtles and Orinoco crocodiles to sharks and stingrays.

Newport Aquarium is so wild and wondrous, in fact, that it even attracts the Man in Red himself: the magical, mythical, marvelous Santa Claus.

Each holiday season, this Kentucky aquarium hosts its annual Scuba Santa celebration, a month-long event that invites visitors to come and watch Mr. C's aquatic acrobatics.

Instead of sitting on his knee, kids can "visit" with Santa with the help of some very special Elf helpers (and a little AV magic), for the coolest Santa encounter (and photo op) in Kentucky!

Afterwards, guests can enjoy fresh cookies courtesy of Kroger, because no one ever walks away from a visit with Santa empty handed.

Watching Santa swim with the sand tiger sharks is truly nothing short of magical, but then again, isn't that what the holiday season is all about?

Have you visited Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium before? If you've never seen the Man in Red strut his stuff in the water, you really ought to this year! Visit the Newport Aquarium website for up-to-date information on this year's Scuba Santa event.

Looking for more fun ways to celebrate the holidays in the Bluegrass State? Why not visit this Hallmark-perfect Christmas town in Kentucky?