Drunk Santas Take Over San Francisco

Written by Luke Thomas. Posted in Arts/Entertainment, Culture, Events

Published on December 14, 2008 with 2 Comments


Sexy Santas spread some yuletide cheer
during SantaCon 2008 yesterday.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

December 14, 2008

Jingle Bells! Oh what fun it is to participate in the annual SantaCon drunkathon when hundreds, if not thousands, of yuletide revelers from all over the Bay Area don inexpensive Santa suits and go on a massive pub-crawl in San Francisco.

And did I mention everyone gets drunk off his or her tits? Well, not everyone gets completely plastered, but everyone is having the time of their lives – just what the doctor ordered to shake off those holiday season blues.

And so it was, Saturday, when the streets of San Francisco became artfully decorated with an army of yo-ho-ho-ing bearded Santas, peacefully and joyfully marching from one watering hole to the next, spreading seasons greetings, love, generosity, and the real spirit of Christmas.

The first SantaCon got its start in 1994 after Suicide Club founder Gary Warne read an article in Mother Jones about a Danish political group that mobbed a department store in Copenhagen. The article inspired Warne to organize a non-political version of the same event in San Francisco.

Since then, SantaCon has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with many different interpretations of the event.

“I wouldn’t call SantaCon a protest against commercialism, but it may as well be,” said one Santa, who joked she was from the North Pole. “More accurately, it’s an event about culture jamming, a mild form of anarchic expression all rolled into one massive have-a-great-time holiday cheer pissup.”


The Mission District SantaCon crew prepares for departure
following a hearty breakfast and several pitchers of Mimosa’s and Bloody Mary’s.


Thirsty Santas stop off for an elixir at Elixir in the Mission.


Santa’s little helpers get thirsty, too.


Pretty in Pink Santa!


Santa/Elf mutant.


Banana Santa?


Marilyn Monroe Santa.


Ho Ho Hope Santa.


Santa Spankathon…


Santa Elaine receives a severe spanking from Santa Steve and Santa Ted.


Santa Ted’s raison d’etre.

 


Naughty boy!


Furry boots Santa.


Charlie’s Angels Santas.


Deep kept the music flowing and smiles growing.


Elvis Santas.


Trumpet Santa.


Pimp Off Santas.


Medieval Santas.


Booty Santa’s.


Photog Elf.


Naughty Santas.


North Pole Santa.


St. Bernard “Woof Woof” Santa.

More photos at Flickr.

Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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2 Comments

Comments for Drunk Santas Take Over San Francisco are now closed.

  1. stuff white people like #228…

  2. Great fun. Great pictures as always.