No one presumes that New Orleans, the city of Mardi Gras, 24/7 bar hours and Bourbon Street, has an angelic halo of purity hovering over it. So it’s no surprise that we who so well lead the life of laissez le bon temps roulé present a multiplicity of ways to heat up holiday celebrations, including this year’s new tradition: the Running of the Santas, the “World’s Naughtiest Festival and Pub Crawl.”
Running of the Santas
In other cities pub crawls might be a source of excitement, but in New Orleans, “pub crawl” is merely understood as “a typical Friday night” (we never have much cottoned to calling things by the names or pronunciations other folks use). So when Running of the Santas comes to town, they knew to do it New Orleans-style, much more than a simple trip from bar to bar.
Pre-party at Ernst Café, where drinking begins in conjunction with the “Hottest Santa Contest,” since it isn’t a pub crawl – or really anything in New Orleans – unless there’s folks in costumes. Because discounted beer is scientifically proven to help with things like addition and subtraction, the Running of the Santas will help you countdown to the big run by offering $3 beers from 3 p.m. onwards.
But don’t forget how to tell time, because at 6 p.m. sharp, you’ll need to get ready to rumble, as thousands of Santas will “run” (meaning “skip, shimmy, second line, stumble” or any combination of the above) three blocks from Ernst Café to Generations Hall. With the excitement level as high as the spirits of all those decking the Hall, the run will turn into a huge part indoor, part outdoor party, featuring drink specials, live entertainment, vendors like Gordon Biersch and more magic than in the North Pole after Thanksgiving.
Thousands in Santa suits fill the street (piglipstick.blogspot.com)
Tickets are $15, but if you want to attain King Kringle status, check out the $35 VIP tickets, which grant you free beer and balcony access during the countdown at Ernst Café, plus free drinks and VIP access at Generations Hall. Also, in keeping with the holiday spirit of giving, the VIP tickets include a charitable donation to That Others May Live Foundation. Light that halo, baby – maybe we do have a touch of the angelic in us after all.
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