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Johnson City SantaCon
December 6 @ 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Get your costume ready and tell your friends, because SantaCon is coming to Town!!
What is SantaCon?
SantaCon is an annual event where people dress up as Santa Claus and other Christmas characters, gathering for a festive pub crawl. It started in 1974 in Denmark as a protest against holiday consumerism. The first American SantaCon took place in San Francisco in 1994, organized by the Cacophony Society. Since then, it has spread to cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Moscow. SantaCon has evolved from its counterculture roots into a global celebration, attracting thousands of participants. You can find more information at www.santacon.info. Johnson City has already been added as an official participant of SantaCon worldwide!
Why should you participate?
Because it’s a blast!! This is a chance for you to let loose your silly side and spread some Christmas cheer!! And Santa isn’t just about having a good time, he’s also about giving back! I’ll get to more about that later.
How do you participate???
Put on a Christmas Costume and Show Up Silly!!! Okay Actually let me go over the details on how you can have an excellent SantaCon and be an excellent Santa (or Elf, Reindeer, Xmas Tree, or Krampus… maybe a Festivus Pole?)… Feel free to get creative just be respectful, remember that it will be COLD, and wear COMFORTABLE shoes!
Now let’s talk about the Santa Code:
Santa wears a costume: Full. Head-to-toe. Holiday themed. None of that “just a hat” crap.
Santa is AWESOME to the bar staff! Pay with cash… It can get chaotic when Santa comes to town.. Tip Well.. Bring ID…
Santa is of legal drinking age… Kids and people under the age of 21 can participate in the photo shoot but they can not join the pub crawl. More on that later.
Santa gives gifts!.. That’s right! Not only does Santa bring little gifts (candy, beads, stickers..) to give out to his fellow Santas and people on the street, but he also brings a gift to leave at one of our official locations where we will be collecting toys to give to local schools in need. Have you ever seen a kid cry because they knew Santa wasn’t coming to their house? It’s hard. It hurts. So give Santa, please give this isn’t just about having a great time, it’s also about giving back.
Santa spreads JOY: Not terror. Not vomit. Not trash. Would you want those under YOUR tree? Be MINDFUL of yourself.
Santa leaves no trace: Put trash/recycle into cans and clean up after your reindeer!
Santa is about PEACE. Not Fighting. Should you find yourself in conflict with a drunken Santa, walk away.. Just let it go…
Santa’s nice to kids: He makes them laugh, not cry…BECAUSE HE IS SANTA CLAUS (DUH).
Santa respects the city: Santa doesn’t piss on the streets, start fights, block streets, climb on cars, or deface property.
Santa respects the JCPD: Police will be downtown. Respect them and do not break laws (open container, urinating in public, jaywalking, doing anything illegal!) There has been enough bad PR about Downtown JC, let’s show people what makes our Downtown great, not scary.
Santa calls the shots: I will be announcing when it’s time to pay up and be ready to move, and when it’s time to move to the next destination. It’s best if you bring cash, and pay for your drinks as you go. We all know how long it can take when everyone tries to pay their bar tab at the same time. Bring Cash, pay as you go. Don’t linger and don’t litter.
Santa comes prepared: with comfy shoes, cash, and layers of clothing for frosty winter weather.
Santa stays safe: Santa does not drink more than Santa can handle. Doing so endangers Santa’s self, Santa’s friends, and the future of SantaCon.
Santa is Santa! You are Santa. Santa is Santa. Santa addresses all other Santacon participants as…SANTA! 
Helpful tips to prepare:
Bring $, little gifts to give out, and a wrapped gift to leave at a stop.
Make a costume, BE CREATIVE! Dress warm with layers for the cold streets and the Hot Dancefloor! Dress in Layers!! Santa likes to GET DOWN.
You can Google Image Search SantaCon for costume ideas. Bring it Tri-Cities!!
Follow the event on Facebook, invite your friends, and share your photos. Listen up for when it’s time to move on, sing along with the carols, yes there will be singing! I will be sharing carols we will sing along our Merry way. Familiarize yourself with them and sing along!
Don’t forget to charge your phone.
Get a good night’s sleep, and EAT BEFORE YOU COME!!! You can also put some snacks in your Santa bag to eat when we are walking.
Know your limits and pace yourself. If you plan to drink, do so responsibly. Plan to keep an eye on your friends. No Santas left behind.
Now When is SantaCon?
We will be meeting at 5pm in front of the Big Black Johnson City Sign Downtown.
You have a 10 minute window in case the reindeer are running late.
5:10 we will have a photo shoot of all our fantastic Santas and Santa Kin! (If anyone knows a photographer who wants to volunteer for this please direct them to this page).
Now for those under 21, they are welcome to dress up and be in the photo shoot and then go enjoy King Commons and Christmas Trees and the Playground, and just have fun being in a costume. The Atlantic Ale House is not an official part of this but could be a good hang out option for parents and kids.
5:30 We are kicking off the magic of SantaCon at Little Magic Bar.
6:30 Next stop we head to is Spring Street Sandwich Company.
7:30 Santa is making his way onto Capone’s.
8:30 Jingling on down to Mulligan’s Irish Pub.
9:30 Santa is making his way back to Little Magic Bar for the closing of the SantaCon 2025.
* Please note that times are approximate.
