**Merry Madness: SantaCon 2023 Takes Over NYC with Thousands of Revelers**
On Saturday, December 9, 2023, SantaCon 2023 kicked off in the Big Apple, bringing thousands of raucous revelers to the streets of Manhattan to ring in the holiday season.
The pub crawl, which started at West 39th Street and Broadway in Midtown, drew a diverse crowd of Grinches, dogs dressed up as presents, and the notorious drunk Santas. The event typically draws around 30,000 participants throughout the day, stretching from Times Square to the East Village.
Crowds flooded the streets, chanting, “We are Santa” and singing, “SantaCon is coming to town.” Even Canadian singer Michael Bublé made a special appearance, urging attendees to drink responsibly.
The event brought out creative and elaborate costumes, as well as attendees of all ages and their pups. Bob Daley, Matt Whalen, Anthony Ciaramella and Joey Zacchia, who drove in from Saratoga and Southington, Connecticut, were decked out in matching red velour jumpsuits, wife beater tanks, and gold chains, evoking Tony Soprano.
Despite the festive atmosphere, there was a beefed-up police presence and a day-long alcohol ban aboard Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road trains. Police handed out open container and disorderly conduct tickets to some participants.
Organizers urged attendees to drink responsibly and abide by the rules to ensure a fun and safe event. Despite warnings of potential demonstrations and protests along the event’s path, participants were eager to spread holiday cheer and make the most of the day.
The SantaCon website appeared to be down on the day of the event but organizers posted periodic updates on social media to ensure attendees were informed. The event, known for its charitable contributions, raised eyebrows when a recent investigation found that only about a fifth of the raised funds went to registered nonprofits.
Overall, the estimated 30,000 merrymakers who partook in SantaCon 2023 had a jolly time, spreading holiday cheer and celebrating the festive season with a day filled with merry madness in the streets of New York City.