Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Phew. Another SantaCon is in the books.
Saturday's edition of the annual pub crawl/alleged charity fundraiser seemed more subdued around the neighborhood — at least during the early and late afternoon, suggesting the raucous tradition might be gradually improving. (One can hope.) Some people blamed the colder weather for the perceived calm outdoors.
NYPD checkpoints and patrols were strategically stationed throughout the East Village. Officers were spotted at key locations, including Ninth Street and Second Avenue, and Avenue A near Fifth Street. Additional officers stood watch outside crowded bars like Solas on Ninth Street, which always serves as an official "Huge Venue," and Downtown Social, arguably the most congested of them all, yet not an official SantaCon destination.
Several venues listed on the official SantaCon map remained sparsely attended. During the peak afternoon hours, Phoenix, located on 13th Street near Avenue A, had just a few patrons. 10 Degrees was similarly quiet.
One NYPD officer commented on the department's vigilance: "We write hundreds of summonses for this event, all for open containers. We receive complaints every year about this event. We're hoping things go smoothly and there are no incidents."
An alert on the Citizen app at about 9:30 p.m. on Stanton and Orchard had the headline, "Man Slashed by Person Wearing Santa Costume." We haven't heard anything further about this incident.
There also appeared to be more "no Santa" signs up on the doors of local establishments (including a neon "Fuck Off" Santa at Joyface on Avenue C and Seventh Street) that want no part of this SantaShow ...
Though not incident-free, the 2024 edition of SantaCon showed signs of being more manageable than in previous years. For some, that may be a holiday miracle in itself.
I saw many Santas and Elves all over the LES on Saturday night mostly they looked like they were having a good time a few were throwing up on the sidewalk by the bars on Essex and Rivington Streets, but it was not as bad as previous years.
ReplyDeleteI too felt it was a lot more tame and less people and bars participating. I walked through the EV and West Village and didn't see anything too crazy or rowdy. Just two girls who drunkenly tripped over each other.
ReplyDeleteI actually saw some Santas going into a coffee shop! Couldn’t believe my eyes.
ReplyDeleteGlad it was a lesser crowd, and glad
ReplyDeletemany establishments did not welcome
these drunken tourists. Maybe they won’t
have this anymore. I would much rather
bring back Wigstock. That was cool!
My fave Santa Con memory was when a group of rowdy drunk Santas catcalled me and made rude sexual gestures at me. I rolled my eyes and continued crunching along the snowy sidewalk (this was when it still snowed!) and I noticed one of those naughty Santas had dropped their wallet! It had 500$ cash in it. I kept it all and mailed his ID/credit cards to him. Christmas spirit and all that! :)
ReplyDeleteIncredible to think that SantaCon started years ago as a protest against materialism and corporate high-jack.
ReplyDeleteAnd fast forward…..Santa Con has transformed into just the opposite - a celebration of materialism, consumption, corporatism.
Wildflower - you are my hero. A true East Villager reaction to a drunken suburban invasion.
ReplyDeleteOnce warmer weather returns on this designated dumb day, so will the generic costumed Santa people.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the fact that some Santacon-official bars get snubbed by the Santas, a group not really known for high standards. Like your bar willingly signs up for the shitshow, and then the shitshow ignores you? Tragic really
ReplyDeleteVery tame Santacon this year. Nothing like the drunken hordes from years past.
ReplyDelete@6:29 PM Santa Carma is real. Great story. I remember when the dapper red Santas would gather like a flock of sheep in a corner of Tompkins Square exuding Christmas joy...
ReplyDelete