Santa to the Sea starts beside the giant Santa holiday display in Nye Park and sends runners across Oxnard, California, to the Channel Islands Harbor. It is a winter road race with a half marathon as the main draw, plus a two-person half marathon relay, 5K run/walk, 1K kids run, and Diaper Dash. The course is fast, flat, and urban, with typical race-day weather around 50 to 70 degrees.
The route is a point-to-point run through Oxnard streets and neighborhoods, finishing by the harbor with the Pacific Ocean in view and the Channel Islands offshore. The field is usually around 500 to 1,000 participants, so it feels more local and community-sized than huge. The day also includes a Charity Challenge, Neighborhood Challenge, toy drive, scholarship program, and a finish-line festival with a holiday marketplace.