Santas hit streets in smaller numbers
“Santa party buses, naked Santas, a whole Santa extravaganza.” Cece Mavarrette, visiting S.F. from Las Vegas, on SantaCon
SantaCon, the holiday event where people dress up in various versions of Santa Claus outfits and stagger across San Francisco swilling beer and cocktails, was officially on pause for the second year in a row as the coronavirus continues to act like the Grinch and snuff out large festive holiday gatherings.
But that didn’t stop about 150 or more Santas of all stripes and many uncostumed hangers-on from meeting at Union Square on Saturday then spreading out across the city to patronize drinking establishments.
The unofficial event, loosely organized on social media, started at Union Square where Santas gathered near the Christmas tree, greeting friends, “pregaming” for the bar crawl with mimosas and canned drinks and taking selfies in front of the tree. While there was a more or less traditionally dressed Santa collecting gifts for the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program, others went their own way.
There was the Haight-Ashbury Santa in a tied-dyed outfit, many female Santas in black boots, red velvet miniskirts and Santa hats. Some Santas dressed in the kind of suit one might have worn to the office back when that was a thing, but made out of red. Others wore Christmas pajamas, ugly holiday sweaters, track suits or red and white striped shirts.
A couple of folks got into the spirit by dressing as Grinches while three men, hanging out near the corner of Sutter and Powell streets, didn’t dress much at all. Wearing only Santa hats and strategically placed pieces of cloth, they repeatedly posed for pictures with other Santas and onlookers.
“It was amazing,” said Cece Mavarrette, who came from Las Vegas to visit friends in Benicia and witness SantaCon. “It was definitely an experience, a sight to see. Santa party buses, naked Santas, a whole Santa extravaganza.”
While the crowd of Santas in Union Square was noticeable, it wasn’t nearly as large as in years past where hundreds more rallied before heading off to drink. There was no official program or, as in some years, official routes to bars. But most folks headed off in clusters of six to 20 to Chinatown and North Beach or Polk Street.
Madison Dewitt of Berkeley and Eva Marquez and Christine Federson of San Francisco said they came to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy a community celebration after close to two years of staying close to home.
“We wanted to do something with the community, to feel like it’s Christmas,” Dewitt said.
They said they felt comfortable venturing out to bars since because of San Francisco’s high vaccination rate and the requirement of proof of vaccination to enter establishments. They noted that they would also be spending time outdoors waiting in line and walking to the next tavern.
Vince Garcia of San Bruno was in a crowd of 15 Santas who planned to head through Chinatown and North Beach hitting bars. Until last year, when the pandemic shut down SantaCon and most other holiday events, the group gathered annually, he said.
“We’re just here to hang out and have a good time with old friends and to meet new friends,” he said.
In previous years, some bars have been overwhelmed with imbibers in Santa costumes and intoxicated Santas created a less than festive atmosphere in some locations, throwing punches at other Santas, passing out, trashing restaurants or vomiting in the gutters.
“Prospective SF Santas, please leave us off your list this Saturday, thank you for understanding, and be safe out there :),” tweeted the Page Bar. Other bars posted signs reading “No Santas.”