Skiing Santas And Supermoons: The Week's Best Photos

Have you ever seen Santa snowboard down a mountain? Neither had we — until this week.

We also saw an astronaut pizza party, the biggest avocado maybe ever, and a very curious kidnapping case involving an Elf on the Shelf.

If you're wondering what on earth we're talking about, allow us to show instead of tell. We've rounded up some of our favorite photos that captured light-hearted moments from around the country this week.

Have a great shot to submit to be featured? Send it to submissions@patch.com

North Pole Meets Ski Pole In Newry, Maine

160 skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes in their best Santa costumes for Sunday River ski resort's 18th annual Santa Sunday on Dec. 3. The event raised $2,500 for the Sunday River Community Fund, which benefits local non-profits. This Pennsylvania ski resort is also getting into the holiday spirit, in the best way possible.

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Has The World's Heaviest Avocado Been Found In Kailua-Kona, Hawaii?

Hawaiians might be preparing for the biggest avocado toast party of all time, after Big Island resident Pamela Wang spotted this gigantic piece of produce while on a walk. Wang has submitted the 5-pound (!) avocado to the Guinness Book Of World Records, hoping to claim ownership of the world's heaviest avocado. A 4-pound, 13.2-ounce avocado from Venezuela currently holds that title. Get the full story here.

An Out-Out-This-World Pizza Party In... Outer Space

Three American astronauts and one Russian astronaut have their Italian colleague to thank for this recent zero-gravity pizza party at the International Space Station. When Paolo Nespoli was suffering from a major pizza craving (they don't have Domino's in space), NASA's space station manager, Kirk Shireman, sent him all the ingredients on an Orbital ATK capsule.

Back On Earth, The Moon Rises Over Buffalo, New York

Buffalo residents witnessed a magical site as the first of three consecutive supermoons rose behind the Erie County Court Building Dec. 3. Supermoons occur when a full moon reaches the closest possible distance to earth, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual. The next two supermoons will rise on Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2018. See Patch's coverage of the supermoon here.

Found: Missing Elf On The Shelf In Deerfield, New Hampshire

The people of Deerfield rejoiced after Zippy, the town's beloved Elf on the Shelf, reappeared unharmed on a local doorstep after being stolen by an unknown mischief maker 24 hours prior. The thief's identity is still a mystery — but Santa is always watching, and it seems like he has a big bag of coal to hand out. Here's how the whole Elf on the Shelf phenomenon started.

First Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Have a photo you'd like to see featured on Patch? Send it to submissions@patch.com