Santas of all shapes and sizes crowded Carver Brewing Co.’s first inaugural “SantaCon” festival on Sunday, bringing the popular national event to Durango to benefit the Durango Food Bank.
Found in most major cities, SantaCon is exactly what it sounds like: a convention of men and women dressed as Santa. The first such event was held in 1994 in San Francisco, and has since grown to a worldwide happening during the holiday season.
Local event organizer Blaine Bailey, a sous chef at Carver’s, said he first learned about SantaCon in his small hometown in Arkansas. Since moving to Durango a few years ago, he thought the event would be a welcomed addition to Durango’s celebrated list of traditions.
“After living here two, two-and-a-half years, with things like Snowdown and the Zombie March, I thought it’d be a perfect town for something like this,” said Bailey, fittingly dressed like Santa while setting up Sunday afternoon.
“It’s about Christmas cheer, man, and having fun in an adult-type deal.”
India Downing, hospitality manager for Carver’s, not dressed as Santa but donning a Christmas sweater, noted the benefit the event brings to the Durango Food Bank. Participants were asked to bring canned food to donate to the food bank.
“We as a town could use year-round donations, not just in January,” she said. “And it’s a huge thing in every major city in the U.S. I can’t believe I had never heard of it. I guess I’m sort of a country-bumpkin.”
Part of the event was a costume contest with three categories: best Santa belly, best beard and best overall costume. The grand prize winner went home with a 5-gallon keg.
Rebecca Schmidt took home the first ever best costume award, which she said she made by hand.
“I feel special now,” Scmidt said.
After, the crowd went on a sort of St. Nick-like journey, but instead of traversing the world to bring gifts to children, the Santa army patronized several local bars, including Irish Embassy, Steamworks, Lady Falconburgh’s, Backstage – it keeps going – Balcony, Brew, Derailed Pour House – it still keeps going – ending up at El Morro and eventually spilling out to El Rancho Tavern.
“We have a very strict No Santa Left Behind policy,” Bailey informed the crowd.
Event organizers had the Santas sign a waiver upon entering Carver’s, releasing the restaurant from any liability should the inebriated St. Nicks partake in any nefarious activity at any point in the night. But rest assured, Bailey said organizers intended to hold a “Pace Race” mid-way through the crawl, where participants would be urged to chug water, just to keep in check for the long night of imbibing.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
