SantaCon 2021 live updates – Carnage on streets as event returns to New York & other cities for 1st time since pandemic
SantaCon 2021 returned NYC for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, with DJs, elaborate Santa costumes, and an eggnog waterfall contest.
Santa-clad party-goers hit the New York streets on December 11, with some taking advantage of the pleasant weather to show some skin, and others drinking eggnog in a “waterfall” poured from a rooftop.
The event, which is a charitable bar crawl encouraging patrons to come dressed in their best Christmas gear, comes once a year, and kicked off at 10am EST.
With merry Santas enjoying holiday cocktails throughout NYC, the event is known to get a little rowdy.
In fact, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced an alcohol ban on Metro-North and Long Island Railroads, with extra law enforcement stationed at Penn Station and Grand Central Station to confiscate any intoxicated beverages.
Read our SantaCon live blog below for the very latest news and updates …
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A look at San Francisco
Similar to the event in New York City, a considerable number of Santas filled the streets and bars.
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SantaCon reminds attendees to drink water
The organization shared the reminder on its Twitter account.
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SantaCon shares rules for event on Twitter
On the official SantaCon Twitter page, event organizers shared rules for the event, to help participants “stay on the nice list.”
Along with using crosswalks to avoid creating roadblocks, participants were instructed not to litter on the walk from bar to bar.
Event organizers also told participants to be respectful of police, New York vaccination rules, bar staff, and any children out in the community.
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SantaCon 2021 locations
The festivities in NYC began at the Christmas Spectacular, located on Broadway at 40th Street.
The other bar locations are in Midtown and trickle down to the East Village.
Some locations included the following:
- Lucy’s Royal Cantina
- Local West
- The Liberty
- Mustang Harry’s
- The Ainsworth
- Doc Holiday’s
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MTA alcohol ban during SantaCon
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced an alcohol ban on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad trains for the event in New York City.
The ban was scheduled to go into effect at 4am on December 11, and it will remain in place through noon on December 12.
NYC MTA Police will station extra officers at Penn Station and Grand Central Station to confiscate any alcoholic beverages.
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When was SantaCon this year?
SantaCon NYC was held on December 11, 2021, and it began at 10am EST.
SantaCon also took place in San Francisco, California on December 11.
The SantaCon in Hoboken, New Jersey, will take place on Saturday, December 18.
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SantaCon held despite return of masks
On December 10, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State would be imposing mask mandates in indoor places, unless businesses require proof of vaccination, effective Monday.
SantaCon was held just one day later, with thousands of attendees swarming the streets of New York City.
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Barcade excludes Santas
The arcade bar announced on Twitter that it would not be serving Santas who participated in the SantaCon event.
“We ARE pouring delicious Christmas beers in the NYC-area…just not for Santas.”
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‘Superspreader event’
NBC’s Mike Sington called the event a “Santa superspreader event,” and reported that thousands of Santas flooded the streets of New York City.
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15-year-old to host ‘ElfCon’
The first-time event is scheduled for Sunday, December 12, at 10am in Union Square Park.
The high school sophomore named Sophie called the event a “kid-friendly hot cocoa crawl,” reported the New York Post.
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Where is SantaCon?
You will find this annual event in almost every large city in the US and around the world. The largest gathering takes place in New York City.
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What is SantaCon?
SantaCon is a charitable and non-political pub crawl that happens once a year to spread holiday joy.
To help spread the holiday spirit, people dress in Santa Claus costumes or other Christmas characters as they hop from bar to bar.
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SantaCon not a favorite of some
One Twitter user said that the day was better in 2020, referencing that it was canceled.
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Huge crowds create SantaCon pushback
Plenty of people took to social media Friday night and Saturday morning to complain about SantaCon revelers descending upon New York.
The event is an all-day bar crawl that brings crowds to Manhattan from outside the city, and encourages heavy alcohol use.
Crowds usually total in the tens of thousands.
In 2013, the New York Police Department even requested that bars refuse service to SantaCon participants, according to reports from USA Today.
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When did SantaCon start?
The first SantaCon was held in San Francisco, in 1994.
The first New York SantaCon was in 1998.
Now, the event is reportedly held in 44 countries worldwide.
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How many are arrested at SantaCon?
SantaCon is known for bringing drunken mischief to the streets of participating cities.
In 2019, at least two people were arrested in New York in an altercation related to SantaCon, the local CBS affiliate reported.
That same year, the Hoboken event spiraled out of control, with police reporting 8 arrests and over 500 calls for service.
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How many bars participate in SantaCon?
This year, the SantaCon website reports 46 venues will host SantaCon revelers.
Partiers make their way from midtown to the East Village.
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Signs on subway announce alcohol ban
Signage on the subways in NYC, as well as at Metro-North and Long Island Railroad stops, reminded passengers of the alcohol ban in place during SantaCon.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced an alcohol ban on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad trains for the event in New York City.
The ban is planned to go into effect at 4am on December 11, and it will remain in place through noon on December 12.
NYC MTA Police stationed extra officers at Penn Station and Grand Central Station to confiscate any alcoholic beverages.
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SantaCon’s eggnog waterfall contest
Bars along the SantaCon route held contests for partygoers, and had special DJ setups to keep festivities high.
One SantaCon venue held an “eggnog waterfall” event.
Eggnog splashes down onto SantaCon partygoersCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun 
Scenes from an eggnog waterfall contest at SantaConCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun Eggnog-splashed partiers at SantaConCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun -
SantaCon 2021 in photos
More photos from the 2021 SantaCon in New York show the creative array of outfits worn by participants.
Signs and costumes interpreted other hallmarks of the holidays, like Christmas songsCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun Relatively mild weather allowed for bare skin in some SantaCon outfitsCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun -
Did SantaCon happen in 2020?
SantaCon was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participants in the 2021 SantaCon must show their vaccine cards to enter bars along the route.
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SantaCon revelers take to streets
In New York, SantaCon partygoers filled the streets on their way from midtown to downtown Manhattan.
Colorful costumes filled the streets for SantaConCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun Some partygoers wore more of a ‘birthday suit’ than a Santa suitCredit: Alex Kent for The US Sun -
Twitter users poke fun at SantaCon
Twitter users made fun of the annual SantaCon tradition in New York City.
“It’s noon and a group of 8 hammered Santa’s just stumbled into this quiet coffee shop I’m in,” said one user.
“And that’s how I learned it’s SantaCon today.”
Another user posted a fake “emergency alert” telling New Yorkers to seek shelter from the crowds.
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First photos from SantaCon 2021
The SantaCon activities began Saturday morning, with Santa Clauses congregating at the start point between 39th and 40th streets.
From there, the participants could go to Margaritaville in Times Square, Yard House, or The Tailor.
People gather in New York for SantaCon, an annual tradition in many citiesCredit: Getty A lone Santa enters Starbucks in New York CityCredit: Getty -
SantaCon participants must dress up
One of the cardinal rules of SantaCon is that participants must wear a full Santa suit–the more elaborate, the better.
The SantaCon website calls on Santa suits to be “Full. Head-to-toe. Holiday themed.”
Wearing “just a hat” is considered a broach of conduct.
