New Haven Independent

The bearded posse took part Saturday in New Haven’s first “Santacon,” an event held annually in cities across the country and abroad. It is essentially a Santa-themed pub crawl (more info here and here). Participants don St. Nick’s traditional red and white suit and march from bar to bar, drinking and dancing and singing carols with reckless abandon.

This is Santacon’s first year in New Haven. The event inspired some of the revelers to do more than just dress up like Santa. The pub crawl turned into an impromptu fundraiser to make holiday wishes come true for a class of lucky first-graders.

The Santas began their jolly rampage at the Diesel coffee shop at 10 a.m. After fortifying themselves with egg sandwiches, the nearly 50 Kris Kringles began their march through town. They stopped for drinks and carols at Christopher Martin’s and Anna Liffey’s, then danced and sang in a circle around the tree on the Green. From there, they stumbled over to Richter’s, then the Anchor, and found themselves dancing and eating pizza at BAR by 5 p.m.

Gloria Wang, a.k.a. Santa Glo (pictured at the top of the story), was the driving force behind New Haven’s inaugural Santacon celebration. “I did it in New York City a year ago,” she explained, “and I thought, ‘I need to bring this to New Haven.’”

Santa Glo got her santa suit at Party City for $45. (She made her “Santa Glo” sash herself.) The New Haven Santacon website had a list of places to pick up Santa suits. “You wanna look like a mass of clones,” Santa Glo said, explaining the dress code.

Santa Glo was pleased with the reception that her Santa army was receiving as they marched through town. “People are so excited, they honk and wave. The kids get really excited.”

“It’s great, I’ll do it again next year,” Santa Glo promised, before making her way to the pool table to dance with the rest of the Santas to P-Funk and Kool and the Gang.

Tabitha Tibault, seating patrons in the restaurant portion of BAR, said that she had not been expecting to host dozens of Santa Clauses at work that day.

“It’s entertaining,” she said, with some hesitation. Asked if the Santas were well-behaved, Tibault reported that the jolly old elves had shattered a couple of glasses, and then cheered, but that they were otherwise holding themselves together.

Earlier in the day, on their way through the New Haven Green, the Santas had happened upon the giant mailbox of letters to Santa on the corner of College and Chapel Streets (pictured). Seized by inspiration, they opened the back hatch (marked “To be opened by Santa Claus only”) and pulled out a manila envelope full of Christmas wish lists penned by a first-grade class at a local elementary school. They immediately began soliciting donations to buy presents for all the little boys and girls, stuffing the manila envelope with dollar bills, even tens and twenties.

“We’re fucking Santa Claus!” exclaimed one Santa Claus, describing the group’s plan.

Santa Chris Laconte (pictured showing off his North Pole dancing), who had powdered his beard white for Santacon, said that the goup would contact the first-grade class teacher and buy something for her classroom.

“We’re calling her in Monday and saying ‘Whaddaya need?’A new chalkboard, a whiteboard, some chairs…?’” Laconte said. He predicted that the Santas would be able to raise $500 to $1,000 “at a minimum.”

Inspired by Santacon, Laconte was filled with the spirit of giving. Before the event, he bought a sackful of dollar-store toys that he had been giving out to kids he came across as the Santas rolled through town. He dispensed Barbies and matchbox cars and jump ropes.

“This whole experience has made me want to volunteer at an orphanage, or a shelter,” he said, overwhelmed by the delight of generosity. “I think it’s pretty awesome.”