SantaCon is debatably the most popular NYC bar crawl of the year, with droves of visitors entering the city for the all-day drinking spectacle. Thousands of New Yorkers are set to storm Midtown bars this Saturday (dressed in festive hats and jolly suits of course) to celebrate the holiday and enjoy Christmas drinks around the city.
The festive drinking event isn’t without a bit of polarizing opinions however! Participants absolutely love it…hopping bar to bar decked out in reindeer antlers and suits; but some hate it…drunk New Yorkers frolicking through the streets of one of the busiest neighborhoods.
No matter where you stand on SantaCon, we’ve got all the details on how to participate (or how to stay away).
When is SantaCon 2024?
The holiday-themed event will draw hordes of Santa suits to bars across NYC starting at 10 am on Saturday, December 14th. Go from bar to bar spreading holiday cheer with a pint (or pitcher) of beer! Following the crowd won’t be hard considering everyone gets decked out in Santa outfits, or any Christmas related attire really.
The event is slated to run from 10 am – 8 pm.
How long has SantaCon been around?
SantaCon has been around for quite a while and somehow manages to get even bigger with each year. The festivities are known to get rowdy, though there is a strict 5 F’s of SantaCon to follow that’s shared on their website, reminding participants to respect bar staff, NYPD (who will be at every stop), and not drink more than Santa can handle!
Where is SantaCon?
SantaCon typically happens at bars in Midtown Manhattan, but this year’s participating bars and venues stretches all the way down to East Village! Over 65 bars, venues, and clubs participate…usually offering some sort of festive deal drinks, speciality cocktails, and of course holiday decor.
You can see all of the participating SantaCon venues for 2024 on a map here.
How much does SantaCon cost?
With dozens of venues and special performances each year, SantaCon organizers are asking for a small donation to obtain passes for entry into all of the official parties. For $15 you can get into all venues, and the money will go to a combination of local charities including Neighbors Together, City Harvest, Figment NYC, and more. You can see the full list on their website here. Nearly one million dollars has been raised over the past 10 years!
: Participating venues can be found on website
: Saturday, December 14th, 10 am – 8 pm
Tickets: Make your donation here