Thousands of St Nick fans flock to NYC for SantaCon as NYPD braces itself drunken crowdgoers

Tens of thousands of St. Nick fans in festive fancy dress have invaded the streets of New York to celebrate SantaCon 2022 – as NYPD braces itself for debauched and drunken behavior at the notorious annual event.

Hordes of revelers dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Christmas trees, reindeers, elves and even the Grinch flooded Times Square at 10am on Saturday to kick off the festivities. 

The crowd is there to take part in an epic pub crawl that includes sixty-five bars, club and venues from Midtown to the East Village – with proceeds from the $15 tickets given to charity.  

‘Looking for a spot without a line?! There are FOUR huge clubs on the West Side you can spend your time dancing instead of standing outside. You can go to any venue all day with your wristband,’ wrote one promoter.

Partygoers were in good cheer – if a little cold- as they paraded down the streets, dancing, jumping, singing, playing games like limbo, and listening to live music while snapping photos of the amusing scenes around them. 

Thousands of Santa Claus look alikes flood the streets of New York dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Christmas trees, reindeers, elves and even the Grinch

 A group of twenty-somethings and younger having a blast snapping photos and in the holiday spirit 

An estimated 30,000 revelers in festive fancy dress hit the streets in NYC to celebrate SantaCon on Saturday

The annual event kicked off at 10am in Times Square and ends in the East Village 

A partygoer tries to ‘say cheese’ in their Grinch-Santa get up during a photo op next to a friend  

Some of the Santa’s were seen going bonkers on the streets of New York unfazed by the thousands of revelers around them 

A group of Grinch loving friends at SantaCon NYC dressed in lime-colored onesies appear to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as the pose for a picture 

However, the event is known for getting out of hand and has become wildly unpopular among New Yorkers who have had to endure years of alcohol-fueled incidents, including public urination, littering and drunken brawls.  

Just hours before the event was due to start, the NYPD issued a staunch message on Twitter: ‘It’s that time again! #Santacon participants – please stay off the NYPD’s naughty list. We’ll be out there making sure you’re behaving. Please be safe and respectful to all New Yorkers.’

An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com no arrests have been made so far, and that an adequate number of police officers were deployed to handle the crowds.

In 2018 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joked that a GrinchCon could be set up in opposition to the polarizing event. She suggested a ‘tea and coffee crawl’ could be established, spreading ‘peace and quiet’.

SantaCon began in San Francisco in 1994 and and has since spread to almost 300 locations. The event in NYC has become the biggest, and was last year blamed for causing a spike in COVID-19.

The event organizers say that SantaCon is a ‘a charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy.’ It claims to have raised $900,000 for charities in the last decade.

SantaCon brings people together. The event began in San Francisco in 1994 and has since spread to almost 300 locations. The photo shows a costume-clad Santa with some snow on his cheeks and nose, a string of Christmas lights around his neck standing next to a red-headed elf 

The event in NYC has become the biggest, and was last year blamed for causing a spike in COVID-19

A good time for all is happening at SantaCon wth many young children taking part in the day’s festivities 

A partygoer wears matching outfit with Santa blowup doll that is skyhigh and has the words ‘NY SantaCon’ written on it 

Three friends looking glam smile pretty as they celebrate SantaCon 2022 in New York City, Saturday December 10

People dressed in Santa Claus and Christmas holiday related costumes at SantaCon NYC on Saturday, December 10, 2022 in New York City. This couple went all out in their eye-catching costumes 

A partially-naked Santa bares almost all wearing a hat that says ‘Naughty’ at SantaCon NYC posing alongside a female friend dressed in a velvet number with white fur trim and matching hat as another Santa lookalike stands nearby amused 

A young girl playing a game of limbo on the  city street as members of the crowd cheer her on during SantaCon 2022