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Photos: The Naughty (And Nice) Santas Of SantaCon
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Saturday in Los Angeles. A sea of red, white and green dressed denizens decked the city's halls, walls, streets and even the Metro thanks to SantaCon 2015, which brought merriment and mayhem once again, starting at the un-jolly hour of 11 a.m. and ending into the crack of dawn the next morning. People take part in the SantaCon tradition all over the world, and thanks to a few naughty types who can't handle their egg nog in New York, it's earned a somewhat bad reputation in some parts. But in L.A. it was a good-natured procession, for the most part about love and communal Kringal cosplay—and ok, lots of drinking too.
The holiday hijinks began at Olvera Street where sexy Santas, funny Santas, arty Santas and pseudo-rowdy punk rock Santas (some threw snow-bombs) sipped margaritas and munched on Mexican food. Next it was off to Union Station across the street for a Metro ride to Grand Park, where participants played games, downed jello shots and attempted to make human Santa pyramids amid a protest from a brightly dressed clown posse (apparently part of the event every year).
Amid jolly chants and rants of "Ho Ho Ho" and people toting signs in the streets about elf rights, demands for cookies and milk, and other Santa-themed silliness, SantaconLA also took over La Cita for more drinking, dancing, and lots of smoking like chimneys in the outdoor patio. Las Perlas cafe, then DTLA gay bar Precinct, and finally Salvage Bar & Lounge capped off the Santa cap-a-thon. All were announced via the event's Twitter account: @LASanta, and though we pooped out halfway through, hardcore Santaconners jingled and jiggled at after-parties, which took place at Jumbo's Clown Room, and private residences -where else?- The North Pole.
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