NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A festive New York City tradition returns Saturday as New Yorkers garb their Santa suits and fake beards to have some drinks at SantaCon 2023.
SantaCon, which dubs itself a “charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy,” is an annual pub crawl in Manhattan.
The holiday drinking extravaganza will send participants across Manhattan from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, beginning at 40th Street and Broadway.
SantaCon has critics who think the event promotes public intoxication, but organizers disagree and say that the event fosters whimsy and joy in the city.
“My favorite part is to just walk around and be around other people dressed like Santa Claus. We are in a lot of bars and restaurants and nightclubs,” an organizer told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880.
A group of friends joining the crowd talked about the importance of pacing oneself at an event like SantaCon.
“No one’s throwing up. We will contain ourselves. Everything is fun with moderation, if you go and you control yourself, you will have a great time,” one said.
The MTA is also following tradition Saturday: banning alcohol on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains and stations for 36 hours alongside the bar crawl.
“Ensuring everyone has access to safe and orderly travel is a top priority,” said MTA Police Chief John Mueller. “The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, and we want everyone to get to their destination smoothly and on time while enjoying the festivities.”
The ban is in place from 4 a.m. Saturday to 12 p.m. Sunday, and MTA Police will have an increased presence at Penn Station, Grand Central Madison and Grand Central Terminal.
Violators are subject to removal, alcohol confiscation and summonses, the MTA said.
NJ Transit is following the MTA’s lead amid SantaCon 2023 and a SantaCon event in Hoboken next Saturday, Dec. 16.
The agency noted that all alcohol – open or closed – is banned from trains, buses and light rail vehicles on these days.
“Ho-Ho-Hold off on bringing that beverage aboard NJ TRANSIT service when traveling to SantaCon in Hoboken or NYC! We want you to have a merry good time, but please do so responsibly,” NJ Transit posted on X.
Gov. Phil Murphy quoted the X post, commenting that “Nobody wants to sit next to Sloppy Santa on the train. Don’t be that guy. 🎅”
Participants are encouraged to buy tickets to SantaCon, and the funds are donated to charities like City Harvest and the Trevor Project.
Organizers told 1010 WINS/WCBS that over the last decade, SantaCon has raised over $1 million for charity.
“Somebody told me there’s a Santa party going on, and I want to be a part of the Santa party. I’ve been nice all year for this,” Mike from Long Island told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880.
More information about SantaCon, including a map of participating venues, can be viewed here.