{"id":442278,"date":"2025-12-12T11:39:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/442278\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:39:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:39:18","slug":"the-santacon-survival-guide-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/442278\/","title":{"rendered":"The SantaCon survival guide 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

They\u2019re painting Manhattan red.<\/p>\n

SantaCon 2025 officially touches down in NYC on December 13, meaning that the streets of Manhattan will soon be invaded by an army of Kris Kingle cosplayers jonesing for a drink.<\/p>\n

Running from 10 a.m. -8 p.m., this festive event is expected to see thousands of knockoff Saint Nicks and other Christmas characters embarking on a booze-filled bar crawl \u2014 like a Yuletide running of the bulls.<\/p>\n

As a service to revelers, we\u2019ve provided a complete guide to the event so people can either join \u2014 or avoid \u2014 the Santa tsunami this year.<\/p>\n

What is SantaCon?<\/strong><\/p>\n

SantaCon started in 1994 in San Francisco as Santarchy \u2014 an event satirizing Christmastime \u2014 consumerism \u2014 the event has since grown into a tradition across the world, with the biggest and most festive event occurring in NYC.<\/p>\n

For the laypeople, the merry-thon essentially involves revelers descending on the NYC streets dressed as a variety of Christmas characters from reindeer to elves, although the most popular of whom is \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 the big man himself.<\/p>\n

As the organizers put it, \u201cSantaCon is\u00a0a charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention\u00a0that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Santas.\"Scenes from Santacon 2022. Stephen Yang<\/p>\n

The X-mas congregation amasses at a secret starting point \u2014 generally somewhere between Broadway and West 39th Street \u2014 and then follows a route of participating bars and venues throughout the day.<\/p>\n

The path of their shot-sleighing stampede is revealed in real time via their \u201cHello Santa NYC\u201d app and social media pages<\/a>. Keeping this sauced Santa route a secret is apparently part of the fun of this ho-ho-hodown.<\/p>\n

Those looking to walk this tingle-tinged road to debauchery can purchase a ticket for $17, the proceeds of which go to charity.<\/p>\n

In the past, SantaCon has partnered with the CityParks Foundation, The Children\u2019s Heart Foundation, City Harvest, The Ali Forney Center, The Secret Sandy Claus Project, Neighbors Together, Dance Parade New York, and Materials for the Arts.<\/p>\n

Although some funds have gone to Burning Man and Crypto, per Gothamist.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"SantaCon.\"SantaCon attracts a variety of Christmas-themed cosplayers, most of whom are dressed as Santa. James Keivom<\/p>\n

Tips for staying off the naughty list <\/p>\n

Of course, organizers offer a few tips to ensure this wacky Kris Kringle convention doesn\u2019t devolve into a Bad Santa brawl like something out of \u201cJingle All The Way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The number one Santa \u201cclause?\u201d Bring cash. Bars get slammed, meaning that bringing brick-and-mortar money means less waiting and more merrymaking.<\/p>\n

Rule number two of SantaCon: get gussied up head-to-toe in Christmas regalia \u2014 and don\u2019t just throw on a hat like a late arrival at the office Christmas party.<\/p>\n

The SantaCon commandments also forbid participants from fighting, littering, urinating in the streets, climbing on cars, and consuming too much booze.<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta does not drink more than Santa can handle,\u201d they write. \u201cDoing so endangers Santa\u2019s self, Santa\u2019s friends, and the future of Santacon.\u201d<\/p>\n

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