While it’s socially acceptable for the drunken masses to stumble around New York on St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve, there’s no place in this city for SantaCon. That’s the message being sent by the torch-and-pitchfork crowd to organizers of the yearly pub crawl.
Earlier today, the newly lawyered-up revelers announced a change in “format” by asking participants to try and remain “inside” as much as possible and avoid the public. Tonight, they will announce a list of Santa-friendly venues. Although the group claims the rearrangement is out of respect for the “planned protests” against police injustice on the same day, it’s hard to believe that they weren’t also motivated by the relentless onslaught of the intolerant masses when they posted the following statement on their website:
Due to the planned protests on Saturday, SantaCon is scaling back this weekend’s festivities in order to create the lowest possible impact on the city we love while still maintaining our glorious traditions this holiday season.
SantaCon has respect and compassion for the hard-working municipal organizations of NYC as well as for the important civil rights demonstrations currently shaping our city’s future. Thus, we are changing the format of this year’s Santacon.
This evening, all participating SantaCon bars and venues will be announced onnycsantacon.com. Their halls will be decked, and they’ll be ready and waiting for Santa to come down their chimneys. PLEASE PATRONIZE THESE VENUES ONLY. If a venue isn’t on this list, it’s because they don’t want you there. Please move around throughout the day from venue to venue but spend most of your time inside, not on the streets.
If you’ve already contributed $10 to charity through the SantaCon website, you’ll receive information about a special SantaThon we have planned just for you. If you haven’t…don’t be a Scrooge! Donate now so you can join the fun before we reach capacity and sell out of Santa Stamps.
Finally, it’s more important this year than ever to pace yourself, watch out for your elves, and stay safe. Fighting, public urination, and vandalism are unacceptable and a great way to ensure that there will be no Santacon in 2015. #DontScroogeSantaCon
If Santa doesn’t Scrooge SantaCon, we have even bigger plans for next year!
At this rate, ScroogaCon should be a huge success.
(Photo: Dave Bledsoe)
