Santa Con in New York

Get ready! Christmas in NYC isn’t complete without thousands of New Yorkers taking to the streets, with more than half of them dressed as Santa. What is this event, you ask? SantaCon, of course! No matter if you love it or hate it, this year’s event is set to be yet another festive bar crawl celebration. So, let’s talk about everything you need to know about SantaCon and how to join if that’s your thing!

My tip: This is my complete and up-to-date-guide to Christmas in New York.

What is SantaCon?

This event hosts thousands of people dressed as iconic Christmas characters such as reindeer, gingerbread cookies, and of course, Kris Kringle himself. This boozy crawl features some of New York City’s best bars. But beware because some bars ban folks who are dressed up, so stick with the organizer’s map to have a jolly good time.

SantaCon is undoubtedly one of the most popular (and loathed) Christmas celebrations in NYC. As a bar crawl, it can be lots of fun, but make sure you don’t turn into a bad Santa! The creators want the event to be a fun and safe environment for those involved. However, it is limited to elves 21 years of age and older.

How Can You Participate in SantaCon?

The two best places to RSVP and find updated information regarding SantaCon are on their website or Facebook page. If you go to the website, you can purchase a $15 ticket with all proceeds going to charity. After donating, you are automatically added to their mailing list, where you will receive details about the event before they are made public.

Another way to learn more about SantaCon NYC is to follow them closely on social media. As the event gets closer, the starting point of the event will be made public, so all you have to do is meet up and tag along with the crowds at each spot.

Just keep in mind that some special venues on the route require additional donations to cover their DJ, decorations, etc. The good news is that when you enter these venues, they give you a commemorative SantaCon pendant so you can cherish the event forever.

When and Where is SantaCon NYC?

SantaCon is usually hosted on the second Saturday of December each year. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, 2023. The remarkable thing about SantaCon is that it’s not an event that’s held in just one location.

SantaCon NYC invades bars all over Manhattan!

Though the official stops have not been released to the public yet, they are usually announced several days before the event. SantaCon NYC is on Twitter (@SantaCon), where you can follow them and sign up for notification alerts.

If you’re interested in looking at last year’s map, you can see that here. You’ll notice that the event stopped at 46 locations throughout midtown and East Village. Bars on last year’s route included Local West, Doc Holiday’s, Lucy’s Royal Cantina, The Liberty, The Ainsworth, and Mustang Harry’s.

Are you planning to be in NYC on December 10th? If so, stop by SantaCon NYC 2022 dressed as your favorite Christmas character and prepare to bar crawl!