Thousands of Santas to Descend Upon Cincinnati This Weekend During SantaCon

The crawl will stretch across various venues in downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Mount Adams, offering Christmas-themed shots for the Santas to enjoy along the way.

Dec 6, 2023 at 10:30 am

It’s about to get sloppy. Hundreds of humans dressed in Santa outfits will be taking over Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Newport and Covington in a holiday pub crawl. There will be singing and drinking; proceeds benefit The Cure Starts Now, a nonprofit focused on cancer research. Photo: Provided by 3CDC

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Grab a Santa suit and head downtown this weekend to party with a bunch of other Santas.

The annual Cincinnati SantaCon bar crawl returns this Saturday, Dec. 9, marking its 15th year of filling the streets of Cincinnati with drunken Santas.

The crawl will begin at noon and go until midnight, stretching across various venues in downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Mount Adams, offering Christmas-themed shots for the Santas to enjoy along the way.

Over 50 venues will participate in the crawl this year. The venue list will be on Cincinnati SantaCon's website the day before (Dec. 8), so be on the lookout for which bars make the list.

If you’re interested in portraying Santa, but are unsure as to how to spruce up your outfit, look no further: SantaCon has some fashion tips for you.

While the thought of thousands of Santas fueled by peppermint shots may sound chaotic, the organization encourages all participants to be courteous of children, police, security and, most of all — to respect the Santa suit.

While you’re prepping for your day of Santa cosplaying, don’t forget to rehearse the classic Christmas carols that will be sung throughout the crawl. The organizers have created a lyric sheet here.

Tickets are $10 and registration closes on Dec. 8 at 11:59 p.m. Proceeds will benefit The Cure Starts Now Foundation.

For tickets and information, visit: cincinnatisantacon.com.

Slideshow

Eat, Drink and Be Cozy at These Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars With Heated Igloos and Patios

Braxton Brewing Co. (Covington)27 W. Seventh St., CovingtonKeep cozy in one of 10 heated rooftop igloos featuring a ski-resort theme. Order piping hot pizza from Dewey’s to enjoy in the igloo, and to drink, Braxton has 15 beers on tap, as well as two wines (a red and white option), High Noon vodka sodas and a small selection of liquor. You can reserve an igloo for $35 for a two-and-a-half-hour time slot. Each one seats up to eight people and includes a Bluetooth speaker.

Shires’ Rooftop309 Vine St., 10th floor, DowntownShires’ Rooftop has brought back its igloos and special garden greenhouses for the season. Reservations are required in advance for parties of two, four and up to eight people to snag a spot for up to two hours. Each dome has a heater and individual speakers, plus a food and drink minimum.

Fifty West Brewing Company Burger Bar7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia TownshipFifty West is again transforming into a winter wonderland with their ice skating rink, fire pits and large heated tents. They’ve also got hot beverages (boozy and otherwise) to help chase away any winter blues.

Rusk Kitchen + Bar2724 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut HillsRusk Kitchen + Bar, one of Cincinnati’s newest restaurants, is offering heated igloos so guests can continue to enjoy its rooftop even throughout the colder months. A reservation is good for two hours in the igloo, and each igloo offers the restaurant’s full bar and menu, as well as a speaker. Guests can make their reservation on OpenTable for a $5 fee.

Frosthaus115 Park Place, CovingtonEnjoy frozen cocktails, ice cream, tater tots and flatbreads in a private igloo for up to eight people. Reservable for two or three hours for $25. There is a food and drink minimum of $75 or $100, depending on the day and time.

The Blind Lemon936 Hatch St., Mt. AdamsWalk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway: The Blind Lemon, Mt. Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris cafe life — one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city. The bar has a large, outdoor wood-burning fireplace to warm you up, weather permitting.

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About The Author

Lauren Serge

Lauren Serge is a frequent contributor to CityBeat. Born in Mason, Ohio, Lauren graduated from Ohio University with a degree in journalism, working for various publications during her education. She currently resides in Pittsburgh and enjoys spending time with her friends and family and making copious Spotify...