Merry madness hit NYC streets with kickoff of SantaCon 2023

Metro

By Georgia Worrell and Deirdre Bardolf

‘Tis the season to get rowdy!

Thousands of people piled into the Big Apple Saturday morning for the kickoff of SantaCon 2023.

Grinches, dogs dressed up as presents, and the notorious drunk Santas convened in Midtown for the pub crawl starting at West 39th Street and Broadway. 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.” One Mrs. Claus jumped roped in the streets while others took shots from mini liquor bottles typically found on airplanes.

Ruth Ann O’Connor, 34, and Rachel Raymond, 36, took the train from Philadelphia for their first SantaCon.

“We’re here to spread the holiday cheer and to get drunk!” said O’Connor.

Four childhood friends — Bob Daley, 30, Matt Whalen, 30, Anthony Ciaramella, 30, Joey Zacchia, 25 — drove in from Saratoga and Southington, Connecticut, decked out in matching red velour jumpsuits, wife beater tanks and gold chains, evoking Tony Soprano.

“I’m most looking forward to the festivities — and all the ho, ho, ho’s,” Whalen told The Post.

“We look forward to this day every year, just getting out with the boys,” Ciaramella said.

He planned to sip “girly drinks” on the tipsy tour that counts more than 50 bars as participants. “I love an amaretto sour,” he said.

Special guest Michael Bublé helped kick off the day. “Every time we hear one of my songs today, let’s take a shot,” he said, adding, “But please, drink responsibly.”

Partiers dispersed to the bars around noon. One overserved participant fled to a Times Square Starbucks to be sick, The Post observed.

The revelers drew a day-long alcohol ban aboard Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road trains as well as increased police presence. Officers handed out an unknown number of open container and disorderly conduct tickets, The Post observed.

“There’s room for everyone on the nice list, so have fun, be safe & behave for goodness sakes,” the NYPD’s 19 Precinct posted on X.

Organizers warned on social media, “Do not walk around with open containers of alcohol at the start point or on any NYC sidewalks … Nothing ruins a good time like an expensive ticket.”

Organizers atop trucks tossed garland leis into the crowd and held signs that listed their cardinal rules like “Don’t f–k with bar staff.” Their crew donned sequin jumpsuits, Santa robes and even a giant pickle costume.

“You’ve gotta get your eggnog on today,” one senior-aged Santa aboard the truck said. 

Hector Ramos, 36, and his girlfriend Maddy Ulerio, 31, were in the Big Apple for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and returned for the Kris Kringle festivities. Ramos was dressed as the Grinch and Ulerio clad in a gingerbread cookie costume.

“I used to go to the one in Hoboken but it’s not the same,” Ramos said. “A lot of spots closed down after the pandemic and here there are so many more venues that you can go and have some fun.”

He saw warnings of pro-Palestinian groups gearing up to demonstrate along the path of the jolly jubilee but said he wasn’t worried. He witnessed the protestors at the Thanksgiving Day parade.

“I think it might be like that — pretty calm, hopefully not too crazy.” Protests were planned elsewhere in the city on Saturday.

Organizers of the boozy event typically defend the shenanigans by pointing out that the $15 “Santa Badge,” which gives special perks and can only be purchased on the website, go to charities like City Harvest.

A recent Gothamist investigation, however, found that, of the $1.4 million raised between 2014 and 2022, only about a fifth went to registered nonprofits.

The SantaCon website appeared to be down on Saturday but organizers posted updates throughout the day on X, reminding attendees to eat and keep track of their belongings. “Nobody likes a messy Santa,” it posted.

This year’s estimated 30,000 merrymakers won’t break any records — the largest crowds showed up in 2021 after the event was cancelled the year before because of the pandemic, said organizer Theresa Shiny Galeani.