Organizers of the 14th annual Santas on the Loose fundraiser said the City of St. Augustine Beach is set to host roughly 1,300 participants Saturday, with proceeds going to Saint Augustine Youth Services.

“We're gonna have about 1,300 Santas,” Speaker 2, an event organizer, said during a brief on-air interview. Kelly, a representative of Saint Augustine Youth Services, said the nonprofit directs all fundraiser proceeds “directly back to the kids.” She described the agency as a therapeutic group home with a residential campus in Saint Augustine South and community teams that support children in the area.

Organizers said the event has grown from an initial 100 participants about 14 years ago into a signature local celebration. Speaker 2 emphasized the weekend is “not just a 5K” but a family-oriented event with costumed characters and activities.

Planned attractions include appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and a Captain Jack Sparrow character, face painting, artificial snow and a photo booth operated by the Lehi the Good Times Roll van. Myth and Legend will serve hot cocoa; organizers noted the date coincides with National Cocoa Day.

Logistics: gates open around 6:30 a.m., the program is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., and organizers said the event typically runs about an hour to an hour and a half. Organizers encouraged late registrants to sign up prior to the start.

The event’s stated beneficiary, Saint Augustine Youth Services, serves residential boys ages 6–17 and uses fundraising revenue for activities and necessities at its residential and community programs. Organizers said volunteers run the fundraiser and community participation helps sustain those local programs.

The segment closed with a call for community attendance and a reminder of the 8 a.m. start time.