NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Running of the Santas, the annual holiday soiree of costumed revelers through the streets of the city’s Warehouse District, will return to spread holiday cheer Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 2 p.m.
This year’s event will start at the South Pole at Manning’s on Fulton Street and culminate with an extravagant costume contest with entrants from both the nice and naughty list at 5 p.m. Once the costume contest is complete, the festivities continue with a fun “run” that will send costumed Santas galivanting through the streets to the North Pole at Generations Hall on Andrew Higgins Boulevard where Bucktown All Stars will take to the stage and keep the party going into the early morning. This year’s holiday debauchery is sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Crescent Crown Distributing.
Online registration is open now according to event organizers. General admission tickets are $30, but a limited number of general admission tickets are available at a 2-for-1 price of $30 while supplies last. VIP tickets which include open bar at Generations Hall are $75. A special discount of two general admission tickets for the price of one will be available for a limited time.
The city’s most raucous holiday tradition, listed as one of the “Top 50 events every New Orleanian should experience,” kicks off with holiday food and specialty drinks from 2 to 6 p.m. at the “South Pole” located at Manning’s, at 519 Fulton St. The city’s largest holiday costume contest will take place at Manning’s at 5 p.m. followed at 5:45 p.m. by the crowd of Santas running the five-block “Fun Run” to the “North Pole” located at Generations Hall at 310 Andrew Higgins Dr.
New Orleans’ most vibrant holiday tradition calls for “runners” from all over the Gulf Coast to don their most creative Christmas attire for a chance to win the treasured “Best Holiday Costume” award. Event organizers are expecting more than 3,000 costumed participants this year donned as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Scrooge, Rudolph, Jingle Bells, Jack Frost, Old Man Winter and much more. Last year’s “Running of the Santas” attracted thousands of revelers from across the Gulf Coast to the streets of downtown New Orleans to participate in the most unique and craziest Christmastime event.
The much-anticipated holiday costume contest with some of the most outlandish Christmastime outfits in town will take place this year at Manning’s at 5 p.m. and will be judged by local media celebrities. Prizes will be awarded for first and second places.
New details concerning the New Orleans “Running of the Santas” will be released via Facebook at facebook.com/runningsantas and on Twitter @RunningSantas.
