Hundreds Of People In Santa Suits Do A Pub Crawl Across The City
Despite some rumors the contrary – a “rouge elf” posted on Twitter it’s not happening – SantaCon is set to take place in the city where it started, San Francisco, on Saturday, Dec. 12.
SantaCon is simply a gathering of people who get together in a large group – numbering into the thousands – on the same day in the same place. And all dressed in Santa outfits.
There’s a central gathering place and then people take off to different parts of the city, hitting bars along the way. Of course.
The meeting spot in San Francisco is Union Square and the group departure time is noon. To participate, not only do you have to be wearing a Santa suit, but you must bring an unwrapped toy in front of the Handlery Hotel on Geary Street.
Why? “Because it’s fun,” its website states in simple easy-to-understand language.
“SantaCon is alive and well and will continue to spread joy and merriment to all the good little boys and girls of San Francisco,” event organizers posted on the website.
The event rolls through the city, where people are both naughty and nice. It hits bars along Polk Street, North Beach, the Mission and the Marina.
Is there alcohol involved? Of course – it’s basically a citywide pub crawl. In many ways, it’s the Christmas version of Bay to Breakers.
This is one of more than 350 SantaCon events around the USA and indeed the world. They are held in 49 countries, including America, Canada, England and as far away as Australia, China and Japan.
The first SantaCon took place in San Francisco in 1994. It was started to protest – in a fun and slightly naughty way – the over-commercialization of Christmas and the holidays.
Website: SantaCon San Francisco
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