THE SANTACON STORY

SantaCon is the annual mass gathering of people dressed like Santa Claus. The event was first held in San Francisco (where else?) in 1994.  Members of a local social club heard about a political demonstration against the commercialization of Christmas. Back in 1974, a Danish theater group gathered a small army of Santas to take over a Copenhagen department store.

Inspired by the idea of an army of Santas, a small band of merry pranksters launched what has become a worldwide holiday sensation. SantaCons is a non-political, purely surreal event. It combines elements of a flash mob with holiday cheer, bawdy and harmless behavior, the singing of naughty Christmas carols, and the giving of small gifts to strangers.

 Last year’s HEAD Trip & Italian Cookie Walk stumbled upon thousands of people dressed asSanta Claus parading publicly on streets and in bars all around North Beach. We were impressed by the crowd’s spontaneity and creativity – not so much by the naked Santas in Washington Square Park. It seemed that the event’s goal of having a good time while spreading cheer and goodwill fit right in with our society’s mission, vision and values. Immediately we knew that the HEAD Society and SantaCon were a perfect fit.

As if SantaCon wasn’t enough, we’ll be exploring San Francisco’s second and third oldest bars. The oldest bar, The Old Ship isn’t open on weekends – I know, a bar in the City? That’ll be another HEAD Trip so for now we’ll concentrate our efforts on the next two.

The second oldest is the Elixir. Since 1858 a bar has served drinks on the corner of 16^th and Guerrero. During the late 1800s it had many owners (Mooney, McGinnis, Sheahan – all good Irishmen) and since then many names (Hunt-In Club, Swede’s, Club Corona, Jack’s Elixir). The bar and the whole neighborhood burned to the ground during the fire following the 1906 earthquake. Almost immediately construction began on a new building and it reopened in 1907. It’s the only bar in San Francisco to be rebuilt in the same location by the same owner following the great disaster.

The Elixir stayed open during Prohibition operating as an “soft drink parlor”. Today the beautiful mahogany bar has been restored and history flows with every drink. Some consider the Elixir’s Bloody Mary the best in the whole city and county of San Francisco!

The third oldest bar is the Saloon on Grant Avenue just across Columbus. This place defines “dive bar”. Back in 1861 it opened with a bar downstairs and two floors of ladies of the evening upstairs. Both services were very popular during the Barbary Coast’s glory days especially with the city’s firefighters and visiting sailors.

When the flames that consumed much of the city raced for the Saloon, those firefighters and sailors sprung into action. They ran hoses down Columbus Avenue to the edge of the bay and pumped water up the hill. The Saloon was saved and, according to local lore, the ladies were grateful and showed their appreciation in that special way. The Saloon claims to be San Francisco’s oldest bar. It is the oldest bar in its original building.

Historic bars, thousands of Santas, what’s not to love?