Photo Credit: SantaCon Newport

Dozens of “Santas” are expected to take to the streets of Newport on Saturday, December 9 to take part in the annual event known as SantaCon.

SantaCon is a free-to-attend non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year for charity. It’s a mass gathering where people dress in Santa Claus costumes or as other Christmas / Holiday characters and parade throughout Newport and many other cities around the world.

According to a Facebook Event, SantaCon Newport will run from 12 pm to 8 pm and will make stops at various restaurants and bars.

Prizes are typically awarded to the best-dressed Santa and the winner of the Santa dance-off. Participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys For Tots.

More Event Details From The Organizers

Last year was so much fun – Santa is returning to Newport to do it again! There is no better way to kick off the holiday season than dressing up like good ole Saint Nick and spreading holiday cheer around Newport. Our annual event is to support the Toys for Tots Drive and the National MS Society.

SantaCon is a free-to-attend event but requires each Santa to bring an unwrapped toy or two for the drive!

The schedule for the day will be released closer to the event date.

What is SantaCon you may ask? SantaCon is a free-to-attend non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention for charity once a year. It is a gathering where people dress in Santa Claus costumes or as other Christmas / Holiday characters and parade throughout Newport and several cities worldwide.

So, dust off your Santa suit, gather your Elves & make sure the Reindeer are fed and ready! Santa is going to land his sled in Newport! Santa’s elves have been working diligently to plan, so each chimney stop will be a great time and even better than previous years!

Remember to check the FB event page for updates as we get closer.

Get more information and updates from the links below:

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...