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NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Approximately 20,000 people dressed as Santa Claus are expected to bar hop across Manhattan on Saturday. The event, known as SantaCon, begins in front of the Flatiron Building at 11 a.m.
The massive bar crawl, which began in San Francisco in 1994, is in its 19th year in New York City.
Last year's Santa Con took place in Brooklyn. This time around, more than 50 bars will be participating.
Seven of the venues require a $10 donation to enter.
John Nelson represents the group New York City Residents. Last year he witnessed two people engaged in a sex act in aisle four of a Duane Reade. So this year, Nelson and others sought to make Santa sober again. They hung flyers claiming the cancellation of SantaCon and inviting opponents to gather at Bar 13 in Union Square Saturday.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is banning alcohol on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trains and stations during this weekend's costumed pub crawl.
The transit agency said the intent is to maintain orderly travel and safe station and terminal operations.
Alcohol will not be permitted on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trains and in stations from noon Saturday through noon Sunday.
MTA police officers will be on duty at Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, stations and trains to enforce the restriction.
Police will confiscate alcoholic beverages and issue summonses carrying fines or imprisonment. Police also may remove violators from trains or stations.
With the Associated Press