NEW YORK (AP) — The festive spirit is alive as Santa Clauses are taking over the streets!
On Saturday, thousands of individuals donning Santa suits along with characters like Grinches and elves filled the sidewalks, bars, and clubs from Adelaide to Vancouver for the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl.
In the heart of New York City, where temperatures hovered just above freezing, the festivities began around 10 a.m. and were set to continue into the evening. Participants transitioned from midtown Manhattan to the East Village, creating a vibrant, crimson wave of holiday joy throughout the area.
The event is described by its organizers as “a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that occurs once a year to spread absurdist joy.” To support charitable causes, attendees are encouraged to contribute $15 for entry into participating venues.
Across the globe, similar Christmas-themed celebrations were taking place in approximately 50 cities, including London, Phoenix, Winnipeg, and San Francisco. Some locales hosted their SantaCons earlier in the season, while more events are planned throughout December.
In light of the gathering, the New York City police shared reminders on social media regarding open container restrictions and the importance of not obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic, which could result in a summons. Attendees were also urged to utilize a designated driver for safety during the festivities.
Additionally, commuter rail services in the region have prohibited drinking on trains to ensure the comfort and safety of all passengers.
