Keep Moving, Saint Nick: Hoboken Bars Enact ‘Santa Bans’

HOBOKEN, NJ — Nope, Saint Nick. Keep moving along. That was the sentiment of a growing chorus of Hoboken bars and restaurants which chose not to participate in the annual wintertime pub crawl known as “Santacon” this year.

On Saturday, a horde of drinkers arrived in the Mile Square City for the 2018 Santacon event, which invites thousands of costumed “Santas” and inebriated elves to “run wild through the streets of Hoboken.”

Although authorities reported that arrests, violations and “hospital runs” were all down from 2017, there wasn’t any shortage of boozing, brawling, urinating sloppiness, local police said. When the night was over, Hoboken police had arrested 14 people and issued 46 tickets. Four police officers were injured on duty.

As he’s done in years past, Hoboken Police Chief Ferrante provided a running commentary as the night progressed. (Read our recap of last weekend’s Santacon here)

• See related article: Hoboken Sees Boozing, Brawling, Urinating Santa Invasion For 2017 Pub Crawl
• See related article: Will 'Santas' Be Able To Handle Their Booze At 2018 Pub Crawl?

This year, just 10 of the city’s 130+ licensed bars officially participated in the event, down from 30 last year, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said.

“Thank you to the several responsible Hoboken establishments who have pledged not to participate in Santacon,” Bhalla wrote on Twitter. “Please consider patronizing them.”

One local establishment posted a sign outside that read: “Sorry, private event… NO Santa’s elves, pixies… Bah Humbug.” (Story continues below photo)

Another local café declared itself a “Santa-free zone.”

Chief Ferrante thanked Hoboken officers and dispatchers for “handling all the challenges of the day,” and also gave a shout out to the Union City Police Department for lending mutual aid.

The tweet inspired the following response from a local bar staff member:

“Maybe you should always tweet about some of the bars who didn’t have any issues yesterday on such a hectic day. I know your trying to report all the bad but us bouncers who kept some of the busiest bars safe should be noticed too. It’s not all so bad!”

Prompted by the local bouncer’s tweet, Ferrante said that that almost all of the bars “are running a professional operation” and the owners have been working with police regarding Santacon.

“Even where there were incidents, I did not hear of any bar management being a problem,” Ferrante said.

At least one internet commenter accused local authorities of putting the kibosh on holiday spirit in Hoboken, however.

“The city certainly put a crimp on holiday cheer and business profits by having such a huge turnout of police as if planning for a disaster," they wrote. "Even the parking was blocked downtown. Isn't it enough the city has killed off business through the poorly managed [Washington Street] project?”

• See related article: Christmas-Themed 'Pop Up Bar' Coming To North Jersey

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Photo: YouTube / SantaCon Events