It's that time of year again when the sea of red and white hits the pavement and SantaCon makes its round in New York City. This Saturday, Manhattan will witness a festive influx of Santas, reindeer, and elves, all gathering together for what's known not only as a massive pub crawl but a charitable affair. As stated by ABC7 New York, the collected funds from ticket sales will directly contribute to assorted charitable causes, starting right from the heart of Broadway at 39th Street at 10 a.m.
Joining in the revelry comes with its own set of guidelines. Partygoers are advised to dress up in their holiday best, to swiftly pay bar staff in cash, to always have their ID on hand, and to be conscious enough to clean up after themselves. One rule that might catch some by surprise is the MTA's temporary prohibition on alcohol across Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road trains. They're set to actively enforce the restriction from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday. Meanwhile, various metropolitan precincts will be bumping up their officer presence, intending to strictly monitor and deter any physical or verbal disputes among participants, as detailed by FOX 5 New York.
While there is no official route for SantaCon, since it's less of a traditional parade and more of a clausal hop from bar to bar, knowing where this jovial crowd starts is key. This year's starting line is confirmed at the crossroads of Broadway and 40th Street. No street closures are officially in the works, yet anyone within a snowball's throw of Midtown East tomorrow would be wise to prepare for heavier pedestrian traffic than usual.
Interested attendees mustn't forget to visit the SantaCon website for further details.
