Santas at Santacon in Brisbane. Picture: Jono Searle.
SANTACON’S drunken Kris Kringles found coal in their stockings this morning in the form of neighbourhood activists jeering the annual New York bar crawl.
The New York Post reports that two protesters were arrested around 11am (3am AEDT), just as about 1000 Santas gathered at the Flatiron building to begin their boozy trek through mid-town.
Revellers take part in Santacon outside The Flatiron Building in New York. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
The activists confronted the parade of St. Nicks with a megaphone.
“I saw a sex act in aisle four of Duane Reade!” one yelled, as Santas showered him with boos. “You guys are doing a bad thing and it makes everyone sad.”
Two men are arrested by police officers as they demand a ban of the annual Santacon. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
One group of neighbourhood activists went so far as to put up posters saying the booze-fuelled blight had been cancelled, hoping to pre-empt the march of wooden-legged merrymakers who dress as elves, gingerbread people and Father Christmas clones.
But the protests and freezing temperatures did not dissuade the jolly elves from their rounds — many, many rounds.
A man is arrested by police for protesting Santacon. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
One Santa who gave his name as Jungle 65 and has attended almost every Santacon since it began in 1998, said it was “inappropriate for people to hijack and subvert an event that is designed for community fun.
“This is a time for people to have fun without hurting anyone,” he said while handing out schedules to attendees.
A police officer writes a ticket citing revellers for drinking alcohol in public during the annual Santacon in New York. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
It’s not all merriment for the revellers.
Last year’s pub crawl brought in $US95,721 in contributions through $US10 fees paid by the Santas and a portion of proceeds from participating watering holes, according to documents obtained by The New York Post.
Revellers take part in Santacon outside The Flatiron Building in New York. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
We believe that Santacon is an art form as well. It’s a creative expression. People get quite elaborate and creative in their costumes.
The tipsy St. Nicks can even get a tax deduction for their largesse. The organisers formed a non-profit organisation, with the innocuous name of Participatory Safety Inc., and received tax-exempt status last year from the IRS.
Revellers dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in Santacon in London. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
Trent Rogers and Amy James take part in Brisbane’s Santacon. Picture: Jono Searle.Source:News Corp Australia
In its application to the IRS, Participatory Safety characterised the non-profit’s mission as bringing “arts events to undeserved communities.”
Its 2015 tax filing lists $US41,455 in expenses to put on SantaCon including $US4552 for “travel and meetings.”
A reveller dressed in a Father Christmas costume smokes as he takes part in Santacon in London. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images
This article originally appeared in The New York Post