Santa Set to Water Ski in Portsmouth Harbor [VIDEO]

As far as most of us know, Santa usually gets around in his sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer. But this Saturday Santa will be water skiing up and down the Piscataqua River as part of the Santa Ski New England 2012 event.

According to event organizers, this will be the second year that Santa will water ski across the frigid river waters to raise money for three food banks: Footprints, Table of Plenty and Operation Blessing in addition to End 68 Hours of Hunger.

The event is scheduled on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and spectators who want to catch a good view of Jolly Ole’ St. Nick water skiing on the river can see him from One Harbor Place and Prescott Park. Last year, many of the hundreds of spectators watched Santa from the former Memorial Bridge.

The event will be based at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. on Market Street and will serve as a great precursor to the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Market Square at 5 p.m. and the Portsmouth Holiday Parade, which will step off at 6 p.m.