SantaCons - Christmas Cheer, Beer Drinking Events

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. -- 28 years ago what began as an irreverent event organized by the Cacophony Society as a night of Kringle Kaos, has reached epic proportions as a global phenomenon known as SantaCon. The premise is that participants dress in Santa suits and meet up for visits to bars & pubs for holiday imbibing and Santa role playing. The original concept actually grew from the inspiration of Gary Warne who sought a non-political, purely surreal Santa prank event after reading about a Danish political group dressing as Santas and mobbing a Copenhagen Dept. store just before Christmas. Some SantaCons today host a naughty and even raucous event with excesses -- bad language, too much drinking and rowdy behavior. Those events are becoming unwelcome at some bars that find them disruptive, such as a business in NYC which posted a sign that SantaCons aren't welcomed.

BAKERSFIELD: SantaCon Bakersfield December 17, 2022, 2-9 p.m. at best bars in town. Come out in your best red, green, and white attire to show off at the biggest event ever! Free, eventbrite.com or pubcrawls.com

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: 11 Cities + 60 Venues SantaCon December 17, 2022, 10 a.m. connected free by Santa Buses  include cities: Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Oakley & Pittsburg PLUS Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez & Walnut Creek. theloadedword.wordpress.com | cocosantacon.com

HAYWARD: Santa Con Hayward December 3, 2022, 6-11 p.m. Free, facebook.com/SantaConHaywardCA/

HOLLYWOOD: Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl December 17, 2022, 2-9 p.m. at local bars. Free, pubcrawls.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Ugly Sweater Crawl December 17, 2022, SOLD OUT, updates pubcrawls.com

LONG BEACH: SantaCon Long Beach's Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl December 17, 2022, 4:30-9 p.m. Location: Downtown Long Beach 300 The Promenade N. Long Beach, CA 90802 DoTheCrawl.com

MONTEREY: SantaCon meets at the tree in front of Colton Hall at 6:30 p.m. where you get the Santa map and group photo taken at 6:45 p.m. Event goes 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ends at the Ice Skating Rink at Custom House Plaza. Dancing encouraged everywhere. Free, facebook.com/ events/2010109102508251

NAPA: Napa SantaCon December 3, 2022 $40, napaactive2030.org

SACRAMENTO: SantaCon December 10, 2022, 2-9 p.m. at select bars. pubcrawls.com

SAN DIEGO: SantaCon Crawl December 10, 2022, 12 p.m. at bars around Gaslamp Quarter.  Starting at Altitude Sky Lounge and continuing from there! Location Gaslamp Quarter 660 K Street San Diego, CA 92101. Free admission, eventbrite.com

SAN DIEGO: Bad Santa Crawl December 17, 2022, 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at Taste & Thirst in Gaslamp Quarter. Your ticket includes Drink Specials, VIP Entry, Private Host to Guide You From Venue to Venue and a chance to Mix, Mingle and Dance the Night Away $17.55-22.85, eventbrite.com

SAN DIEGO: Jingle & Mingles Sexy SantaCon December 17, 2022, 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. at American Junkie.  Levinson Group collection Experience Downtown San Diego like never before! Wear your ugly sweaters, Sexy Santa, or just bring your holiday cheer with you! 4 bars  Location: 628 5th Street. $12.24-17.55, eventbrite.com | sandiegovipnightlife.com

SAN FRANCISCO: SantaCon Union Square December 10, 2022, 1-6 p.m. Santas in full attire and ready to roll! Bring an unwrapped, new toy to donate for a girl or boy. Free, DJ line up, hip hop, house, drink specials. santacon.info

SAN JOSE: San Jose SantaCon Crawl December 10, 2022, 1 p.m. at Rec Room + Various Venues. Merriest Event of the year as Santas turn San Jose into the north pole. Wear  the whitest beards and reddest suits, strap your boots and grab your slays  to slay some brews with your reindeer at San Jose.  $13.23, eventbrite.com

SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz SantaCon December 3, 2022, 6:30 p.m. RupertsParty.org

SONOMA: SantaCon December 10, 2022, 12 p.m. at Sonoma Plaza. Free, just show up, Age 21+ only. santacon.info

TEMECULA: Santa Crawl December 17, 2022, 12-6 p.m. Santa Loves Wine in the Temecula Valley Wineries. We will start at Europa/Bailey's Wineries and will have a Santa map. This event is for fully costumed Santas and Elves! This is a FREE event open to anyone over 21. Please bring an unwrapped NEW toy for the Toy Drive, santacon.info

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.