SantaCon is coming back to town
Annual event set for Saturday afternoon
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> SantaCon is coming to town, once again, with this weekend’s annual holiday pub crawl.
Saratoga SantaCon, marketed as the Capital District’s Biggest Pub Crawl, is scheduled for this Saturday in downtown Saratoga Springs.
Registration for the event will start at 1 p.m. at Bailey’s Cafe, with a pre-crawl Saratoga SantaCon Brunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Harveys Restaurant and Bar.
For several years, Saratoga SantaCon has served as a major help in collecting food for local nonprofit organization Franklin Community Center’s food pantry.
Each event-goer is asked to bring five or more nonperishable food items to participate in the festivities, which includes an eight-stop pub crawl along with giveaways, prizes for costumes and a $400 cash grand prize for one lucky winner at The Reserve, the last stop, where an after-party is scheduled as well.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their finest Santa or holiday attire and join hundreds of others in spreading some holiday cheer this season.
Awards will be presented for the biggest group of Santas, bestdressed group of Santas and the most festive group costumes.
Last year’s SantaCon brought in 2,500 pounds of food for the Spa City pantry, helping Franklin Community Center serve more than 6,000 people annually, and this year organizer Brian Miller is aiming to donate even more.
In years past, Saratoga SantaCon has raised thousands of pounds of food, creating muchneeded meals for community members.
“It’s like 15 to 20 percent of all of the total food raised for the Franklin Community Center,” Miller said. “That’s for the whole year.”
This year the center is especially in need of healthy food options, such as 100 percent fruit juice or canned beans with reduced or no added salt, as part of the Nourish Your Neighbor healthy food drive initiative.
As always, Miller hopes that the upcoming Saratoga SantaCon will provide a fun-loving, festive atmosphere for participants while continuing to help conquer hunger in the community. “It’s a tradition,” he said.
No advance registration is required to participate in Saratoga SantaCon 2018.
The first 300 Santas to register at Saturday’s event will receive a special gift from the Pabst Brewing Company.
Absolut and Pabst will present drink specials at each stop of the pub crawl, which includes Bailey’s, Peabody’s, Ice House, Dango’s, Clancy’s, Trotters, Gaffney’s Saratoga City Tavern, Tap & Barrel, Caroline Street Pub and The Reserve. More information about Saratoga SantaCon 2018 is available online at www.facebook.com/ SantaconSaratoga.