NYC SantaCon 2024: A Boozy Christmas Bar Crawl

Get ready, New York City! Thousands of Santas are invading Manhattan on December 14th for the annual SantaCon bar crawl. This festive, boozy tradition starts at 10 a.m. in Midtown and winds its way through the East Village, hitting dozens of bars along the way.

<img src="https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2024/12/36460337497-1080pnbcstations.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=1920%2C1080" alt="SantaCon in NYC">

Brace for the Cold!

Temperatures are expected to be freezing, so dress warmly under your Santa suit! Check out this tweet for the latest weather forecast:

<blockquote><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HO HO HOLY COW IT'S COLD! <a href="https://twitter.com/StormTeam4NY/status/1867939074142519340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">pic.twitter.com/7G90EmTtk5</a></p>— Storm Team 4 NY (@StormTeam4NY) December 14, 2024</blockquote>

The "Santa Code": Rules and Regulations

To keep the festivities fun and avoid trouble, remember the Santa Code: Be nice to bar staff (and tip well!), be kind to kids, clean up after yourself, and be respectful to NYPD officers. The organizers emphasize peace: "Should you find yourself in conflict with a drunken Santa, walk away… Just let it go…"

MTA Alcohol Ban

Important Note: The MTA is implementing an alcohol ban on all Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road trains, and on platforms, from 4 a.m. Saturday to noon Sunday. Extra police will be present to enforce this.

Participating Bars and Avoiding the Chaos

The SantaCon map shows numerous participating bars in Midtown and the East Village. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider staying away from these areas and heading to the Upper West Side, Harlem, or other less central locations.

<a href="https://map.santacon.nyc/hello/santa">Check out the official SantaCon map here!</a>

What is SantaCon?

SantaCon is an annual event described as a "charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention" designed to spread "absurdist joy." While mostly fun and games, remember that some participants may overindulge, so be mindful of your surroundings.