Thousands of costumed revelers will bar crawl through Manhattan starting Saturday morning, with organizers asking participants to follow the Santa Code.
Thousands of people dressed as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, elves, and other holiday characters will flood Manhattan streets Saturday for the annual SantaCon bar crawl. The event, which has become a polarizing December tradition, kicks off at 10 a.m. and continues throughout the day as participants move from bar to bar across the borough.
This year’s festivities begin at West 39th Street and Broadway, where costumed revelers will gather before heading to their first stops. More than 50 bars and clubs across Midtown and the East Village are participating, creating a massive, mobile celebration that draws both enthusiastic participants and annoyed critics.
The weather should cooperate somewhat, with temperatures reaching near 40 degrees. Cold enough to require layers underneath those Santa suits, but not brutally frigid. Anyone planning to wear head-to-toe costume gear, as the official rules require, should dress appropriately underneath to avoid freezing during the all-day event.
Organizers post rules that may or may not get followed
SantaCon organizers published a detailed Santa Code listing dos and don’ts for participants. The rules encourage treating bar staff well, tipping generously, being kind to children, cleaning up messes, and respecting NYPD officers. One rule emphasizes that Santa represents peace, advising anyone in conflict with a drunk Santa to simply walk away and let it go.
The website describes the event as a charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that spreads absurdist joy once a year. Organizers encourage participants to donate $15 for free entry into participating venues, though enforcement of this suggested donation varies.
Despite the posted guidelines, past years have shown that not everyone follows the code. Some participants drink too much and behave obnoxiously, leaving messes on city streets and sidewalks. The event attracts mostly people in their 20s looking for an excuse to day-drink in costume, which inevitably leads to some bad behavior regardless of how many rules get posted online.
Where the Santa invasion will happen
The main concentration of participating bars sits in Midtown East, Midtown West, and the East Village. The crawl typically starts in Midtown around 10 a.m., with the crowd gradually moving downtown as the day progresses and participants get progressively more intoxicated.
For people wanting to participate, the SantaCon website provides a map showing all participating locations. The route winds through Manhattan, hitting dozens of bars over the course of the day. Some venues embrace the chaos, while others tolerate it because of the revenue boost from thousands of customers passing through.
For people wanting to avoid the event entirely, staying away from Midtown and the East Village is essential. The Upper West Side, Harlem, and the far upper and lower parts of Manhattan should remain relatively Santa-free. Anyone in other boroughs can probably stay put without encountering many costumed bar crawlers, though some participants do venture beyond Manhattan.
Honestly, if SantaCon sounds miserable to you, this might be a good weekend to leave the city altogether. The event dominates certain neighborhoods for hours, making normal activities difficult in those areas.
Transit restrictions and getting around
In previous years, the MTA banned alcohol on all Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road trains for the weekend, implementing 32-hour restrictions starting early Saturday morning. This year, no such announcement has been made, which could mean either the MTA is taking a different approach or the ban simply was not publicized.
The absence of a confirmed alcohol ban might make transit more challenging for commuters who have nothing to do with SantaCon but need to use the trains Saturday. In past years, the restrictions helped reduce rowdy behavior on trains filled with drunk Santas heading home after hours of drinking.
For participants, getting to and from Manhattan requires planning. Subways will likely be packed with costumed revelers throughout the day. Uber and Lyft drivers may refuse pickups if passengers appear too intoxicated. Anyone planning to participate should figure out transportation in advance and have a backup plan.
The event divides New Yorkers every year
SantaCon has passionate supporters who see it as harmless fun and a way to celebrate the holiday season with friends. They view criticisms as overblown and argue that one day of partying does not warrant the complaints.
Others find the event obnoxious and disruptive, turning parts of Manhattan into outdoor fraternity parties. They point to the messes left behind, the aggressive drunkenness, and the general nuisance created by thousands of intoxicated people wandering the streets in costume.
Local businesses have mixed feelings. Bars participating in the event see massive revenue increases, sometimes making more during SantaCon than any other day of the year. Other businesses, particularly those not serving alcohol, suffer as normal customers avoid the affected neighborhoods. Restaurants trying to serve regular Saturday brunch or lunch deal with crowds of drunk Santas spilling onto sidewalks and creating chaos.
The debate repeats annually, with no real resolution. SantaCon continues because enough people enjoy it and enough bars profit from it. Critics continue complaining because the behavior genuinely disrupts neighborhoods. Both sides have valid points, and neither will convince the other.
How to handle Saturday if you’re in the city
If you plan to participate, follow the posted rules. Tip your bartenders well, clean up after yourself, be respectful to people working, and do not pick fights. The event can be fun if participants act responsibly, but it becomes miserable when people behave badly.
If you want to avoid SantaCon, plan accordingly. Do not go to Midtown or the East Village on Saturday unless absolutely necessary. If you live in those areas, stock up on groceries Friday and prepare to stay home. The event typically winds down by evening, so Sunday should return to normal.
For anyone stuck in the affected areas Saturday, patience helps. The crowds will pass eventually. One day of chaos does not define the entire holiday season, even if it feels overwhelming while it is happening.