LA Santacon

Santa takes the Metro

2014 is officially a Metro year. 

That means you will need to purchase your own $7 Metro Day Pass/Tap Card. We will begin at 11am on 12/13/2014 metro adjacent. Start location details will be shared via the mailing list on 12/12 and this site. Stay tuned for details.

Santa's Survey

Santa is brushing the sleep from his eyes and whipping the elves into shape in preparation of December activities. Let him know where you want to go, how you want to do it and if you have connections with venue owners and activities. 

Please take Santa's Survey

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Slab City Santacon - October 31, 2014

WE INTERRUPT LOS ANGELES SANTACON PLANNING FOR

!!! ----- BREAKING NEWS ---- !!!

SLAB CITY SANTACON - OCTOBER 31, 2014

 

Can't wait till December to get your Santacon on? You're in luck! There's a very special Santacon in Slab City on October 31st!

This is not a joke.  

Don't forget your holiday bests. 

 

The Slabs are about 3 hours east-south of Los Angeles, near the Salton Sea. (map) 

 

 

Save the Date: December 13, 2014

LA Santacon will be on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Check back for info or sign up on Santa's list to get information as soon as its announced. 

---

Sign up for LA Santacon Info

Santacon 2013 starts at...

Santacon begins at 11am tomorrow at 
El Mercadito Mariachi
3425 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA

 

Santacon invaded Los Angeles more than 10 years ago, and in that time has grown in numbers from under a hundred to more than 500*. We've corralled and caroled all over this fine city (and county!), and we've had so much fun, we're doing it again!**  Are you READY SANTA!? WE HOPE SO! 

 *500 sleigh passes sold, but not everyone takes the sleighs! You try counting a sea of Santas.

**As many of the epic blasts from the past as we can cram into one long day! 

1. Follow @lasanta on twitter.  This is *the* way to stay informed tomorrow. The route is not publicised. YFollowing @lasanta to find out where we are if you are joining late.
2. Read the Rules and be a Good Santa.  http://www.heathervescent.com/santacon/the-rules.html
3. Download the songbook RIGHT NOW to your phone or print your own at home.  http://plaidtherapy.com/santa/LA_Santa_Songbook_2013.pdf
4. Santacon begins at 11am tomorrow at El Mercadito Mariachi 3425 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
5. If you choose to travel by car, park at your most convenient Metro stop and take the Gold line to the Indiana stop.  Then walk north up Indiana and left (west) onto 1st St.  If you see 3rd St, you went the wrong way.
6. If you choose to avoid the hassle of driving at all, Santa has two nifty presents to offer: both Lyft and Uber have provided promo codes that will earn Santa first-time-user credits! See the ride-share section below for more details!
7. Be sure to have a Metro TAP day and buy a Metro Day Pass ($5) for EACH PERSON.  The Metro does not allow sharing of TAP cards.
8. It is a long day.  Pace yourself and be sure to bring whatever your need for 12+ hours,and while you're at it, bring some to share with Santa. The Metro runs until about 2am, the ride-share companies until 4am.

Some tips to make your adventure more awesome:

• Bring cash (closing your check might leave Santa behind!)
• Print out Santa fliers if ya want to spread holiday....cheer?
• Don't drink your own alcohol in restaurants/bars, especially beer in cans or bottles that they don't sell (they can lose their liqueur license)
• Throw away your trash on the sleighs (trash bags provided)
• Use the buddy system - no Santa left behind!
• Bring extra Santa hats to spread holiday cheer and when we're on the metro and can handle more Santas, use them to recruit new Santas! 
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Wear something under your Santa jacket (in case it gets warm and you want to take it off) and bring warm layers to wear after dark when it cools off.
• Cheap Santa suits often itch. If so, wear a light layer underneath your suit for an itch-free day!

Ride-share Info

Be an on-top-of-it Santa and download the apps, set up the profiles and enter the codes before you leave the comfort of your own home and sobriety... that way you're all set to begin blowing minds the moment you step out your front door! You could take one of these cars to your nearest metro station, or all the way to El Mercadito! The codes only work for first-time users, so if you've already used one of the services, here's a chance to try the other! Pro-Santa-tip: Ask the members of your posse if they've ever used either service and, if not, convince them to try it and use the codes! Everybody wins!

• LYFT: USE THIS CODE: LASANTA for $20 towards your first ride with Lyft!
  1. How it works:Download the Lyft app at: get.lyft.com/lyftoff/ (or find it in your app store; available in for iphone and android only)
  2. Go to the "Payments" section and enter the promo code: LASANTA
  3. Available to New Users only (those who've never taken a Lyft and never redeemed a code)
  4. Request a Lyft when you need a ride!

• UBER: Download and use the app: fl9cl - $20 off first ride, new users only.

 

And this reminder of the Santacon 'rules:

REMEMBER THE ANSWER IS: SANTA

It's very important how we deal with the public, private security, and most importantly, LEO. If asked, this is how you should answer:

• Who's in charge? SANTA
• Who are you with? SANTA
• What organization are you with? SANTA
• Who organized this? SANTA
• Who just puked in that trashcan? SANTA

Honestly, there are those folks who figure honesty is the best policy and that's fine. The aforementioned statements are true.

• Don't quote a web address
• Don't point out someone
• Don't give out a name
• Don't supply an e-mail address
• Don't hand out a phone number

Start location and details

Ho ho ho!

Start location and details will be sent to sleighpass holders today and it will be posted to this blog tonight.

You need to purchase your OWN Tap Card for the Metro. You need to purchase a SLEIGH pass to ride on the Sleigh (bus) since Santa is visiting places the Metro does not go. You are welcome to taxi, bicycle or otherwise join us at these locations, but you can not ride on the sleighs without a sleigh pass. 

Santacon: Greatest Hits

Santacon will be on Saturday December 14th, 2013, with the theme: Greatest Hits.

This will be a combo year. You will be responsible to get your own Metro Tap Card, and you will need to purchase a Sleigh Pass to ride on the Sleighs.

All the usual rules apply, like announcing the start location 24-48 hours prior to December 14, 2013, 11am.

 

 

2013

Stay tuned for details shortly....

Start Location and Details

Santa starts in beautiful downtown Culver City!

• You agree to the RULES by showing up in a santa suit. 
• Print off your own Carol book (and bring extras)
• Santa's last stop is at 10pm, so pace yourself. 
• A scientific hangover remedy to take before bed
• Updates by LASanta on Twitter 

Food and Libations start at 11am at BOTH locations

• The Culver Hotel: Happy Hour drinks and Omelette/Twaffel bar for $10 (location of the rumored Wizard of Oz munchkin sex parties!)
• Rush Street: Full bar and breakfast options

Ice Skating Rink ($10 per session + $4 skate rental)

• 10am and 11:30am sessions

Required Items

• TAP Card with Day Pass ACTIVATED before you arrive (see below)
• Your Jolly Spirit

Parking

• Unless you live Westside, do not park in Culver City.
• Park at your most convenient metro stop and take the Expo line to Culver City, then walk 15 minute downtown.
• The Metro runs until ~2am on Saturday.

Activating/Getting your TAP daypass.

The metro requires a TAP card to ride it. Day passes cost $5, a Tap card is $1. If you do not have a Tap Card, it will cost $6. Cash, Credit or Debit. Tips on MetroPasses.

1. If you have a TAP card, you need to activate a day pass on it. 
2. Put your Tap card to the Tap reader.
3. Select F - Metro Day Pass $5
4. If your Tap card has $5 or more on it, place your tap card on the tap reader and the day pass will be activated.
5. If your Tap card has less than $5 on it, you will need to pay additional amount (Cash, Credit, Debit) to get $5. Place your Tap card on the reader and it will activate the day pass.
6. "Tap" your Tap card at each Station Entrance. You do not tap to exit. 

If you don't have a Tap Card

1. Option A: Purchase Tap Card + Fare
2. Purchase Day Pass $5
3. Pay with Cash, Credit or Debit ($6 total)
4. Voila
5. Tap at each station Entrance

2012 PreSanta

Ho Santa. Saturday we flow in the red tide with activities from 11am to 10pm in our beautiful city.

• Start location will be posted on Friday, December 7th, mid-morning.
• Start time is 11am, Saturday December 8. 
• Santa rides the metro. You need a TAP card with a day pass. Tips on Tap Cards here. More details below.
• Songbooks available to print this week. 
• Watch for details and other information here and on Twitter. 
• Remember the RULES! 

Santa recommends you park by your most convient Metro Station and take the Metro to the start location. It is not recommended to park near the start location. 

 

Things you can bring for extra holiday cheer (or use your own imagination)

• Battery Lights
• Holiday Decorations, wrapping paper and tape
• Host a Reindeer Game (wreath tossing, wrapping a statue, etc)
• Santa especially like Whipped Cream Vodka and Egg Nog.

 

Activating/Getting your TAP daypass.

The metro requires a TAP card to ride it. Day passes cost $5, a Tap card is $1, so if you do not have a Tap Card, it will cost $6. Cash, Credit or Debit. 

1. If you have a TAP card, you need to activate a day pass on it. 
2. Put your Tap card to the Tap reader.
3. Select F - Metro Day Pass $5
4. If your Tap card has $5 or more on it, place your tap card on the tap reader and the day pass will be activated.
5. If your Tap card has less than $5 on it, you will need to pay additional amount (Cash, Credit, Debit) to get $5. Place your Tap card on the reader and it will activate the day pass.
6. "Tap" your Tap card at each Station Entrance. You do not tap to exit. 

If you don't have a Tap Card

1. Option A: Purchase Tap Card + Fare
2. Purchase Day Pass $5
3. Pay with Cash, Credit or Debit ($6 total)
4. Voila
5. Tap at each station Entrance