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Get merry with this huge group of Santas on a Vancouver bar crawl

Vancouver’s jolliest ‘convention’ will once again “spread holiday cheer in the most magical and absurd way possible” through the city’s streets this year.

Vancouver’s jolliest ‘convention’ will once again “spread holiday cheer in the most magical and absurd way possible” through the city’s streets this year.

 Vancouverites are invited to bust out their best fur-trimmed red tracksuit for SantaCon. Photo: SantaConVancouverites are invited to bust out their best fur-trimmed red tracksuit for SantaCon, a “non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention,” happening Dec. 14. Photo: SantaCon

Vancouverites are invited to bust out their best fur-trimmed red tracksuit for SantaCon, a “non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention,” happening Dec. 14. The free event draws out an enormous crowd of amped up, santa-clad people each year for an afternoon of red and white mayhem.

While organizers claim a “sugar plum fairy dies” every time someone calls the event a bar crawl, let’s be honest, that’s exactly what it is. The festive troupe meets up at noon at a designated starting location, released a week before the event, and then visits various bars throughout the city.

But, there are some rules to attending this jolly ‘convention.’

  1. “Simply wearing a Santa hat is not acceptable. Santa must attend in a full and glorious holiday costume.”
  2. When you attend the event, you become Santa. “Santa must address all other SantaCon participants as Santa.”
  3. “Obey all laws. Even open container laws. Unsafe, obnoxious, law-breaking Santas ruin Christmas. Don't be THAT Santa.”
  4. “Pace yourself. Santa is jolly, not sloppy.”
  5. “Tip your bartenders.”

Of course, you must be of legal drinking age to participate in the event.

Don’t forget to bring your jolly Christmas spirit! Follow @santaconvan on Instagram for updates.

SantaCon Vancouver 2019

When: Saturday, December 14 from 12 PM

Where: Santa is arranging a starting location.

Cost: Free to attend, but you must be legal drinking age.