SantaCon NYC 2026: Date, Start Location and a Party Bus from Long Island

SantaCon NYC 2026 is one of the biggest group days of the year in Manhattan, and every December we get the same call from Long Island: “There are 14 of us, we’re all dressed as Santa, how do we get in and back without losing anybody?” That’s what this guide is for. If you already know you want a ride, get a free quote for a SantaCon party bus from Long Island or call (631) 887-5544. December 12 is a Saturday in peak holiday season, so vehicles go early.

Below: the 2026 date and hours, how the start location works, the rules worth knowing, the LIRR question, and a simple plan for a Long Island group.

When Is SantaCon NYC 2026?

SantaCon NYC 2026 is Saturday, December 12, 2026. The organizer’s official ticket listing shows 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 21 and over. That’s a little earlier than 2025, which ran from about 10 a.m. into the early evening.

It’s always the second Saturday in December, give or take, so if you’re reading this in another year, that’s the weekend to look at. Hoboken runs its own unofficial version on a different weekend. It isn’t the same event.

SantaCon NYC 2026	What we know
Date	Saturday, December 12, 2026
Hours	9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (per the official listing)
Age	21+
Area	Mostly Midtown Manhattan
Start location	Announced the week of the event

What Is SantaCon in New York City?

SantaCon is a one-day bar crawl where tens of thousands of people dress as Santa, elves, reindeer and the occasional Grinch, and move between participating bars across Manhattan. There’s no parade and no single route. You start at a meeting point and then go wherever your group wants from a list of venues.

For a lot of Long Island friend groups, it’s an annual reunion. College friends, softball teams, coworkers, cousins. The costume is half the fun, and the photos come out great.

Where Does SantaCon NYC Start? (Route and Map)

This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: nobody knows until the week of. The organizers post the starting point on their website and Instagram a few days before. In 2025 the kickoff was in Midtown around Broadway in the high 30s.

There’s no fixed SantaCon NYC route. Instead there’s a map of participating bars, usually 60 or more spots, mostly in Midtown. Your group picks a few and moves at its own pace.

For a ride from Long Island, this matters. We don’t lock in a drop-off address until the start point is public. Then we pick the closest corner that’s actually open, because Midtown on a December Saturday has closures, tour buses and heavy foot traffic.

SantaCon NYC Tickets, Wristbands and ID

You can walk around in a Santa suit without a ticket. But the official wristband is what gets you into the bigger “marquee” venues, and many groups buy one so nobody gets stuck outside. Most of the smaller bars on the list don’t charge a cover.

• Buy from the official SantaCon NYC site or its listed ticket page. The listing itself warns that other “SantaCon” tickets sold by national companies won’t get you in.
• Bring a real ID. It’s 21+ and bars check.
• Keep proof of purchase on your phone, and screenshot it in case service is bad in a crowded block.

People also ask where the money goes. Organizers say proceeds support local charities. If giving back is a big part of your day, a simple move is to have your group drop a few new toys at a Long Island toy drive before you head in.

The SantaCon Rules People Forget

The organizers publish a “Santa Code,” and the NYPD is out in force that day. The short version:

• No open containers on the street. The official listing is blunt about it: you can be arrested.
• Tip the bartenders well and be patient. They’re working the hardest day of their year.
• Be nice to kids. Little ones think you’re the real Santa.
• Wear the whole costume, not just a hat.
• Leave no trace and walk away from any argument.

One more from us: eat a real breakfast before pickup, and drink water all day.

Can You Take the LIRR to SantaCon?

You can, but know what you’re signing up for. In 2023, 2024 and 2025 the MTA banned alcohol on the LIRR and Metro-North, in trains and stations, from early Saturday morning until noon Sunday on SantaCon weekend, with extra police at Penn Station and Grand Central Madison. The 2026 rule hasn’t been announced yet, but expect the same.

The bigger issue is the trip home. At 8 or 9 p.m. you’ll be squeezing onto a packed train with a few hundred other Santas, then figuring out how everyone gets from the station to their car. For one or two people, fine. For a group of 10 to 20, it usually falls apart somewhere around Jamaica.

SantaCon by Party Bus from Long Island

This is where we come in. A SantaCon party bus from Long Island keeps the group together from the first pickup to the last drop-off. Here’s how a typical day works:

1. Morning pickup at one house, a park-and-ride, or a few stops across Nassau and Suffolk.
2. The ride in. Party buses can’t use the parkways because of the low bridges, so we take the Long Island Expressway. Music, photos, costume touch-ups.
3. Drop-off at the closest open corner to the announced start point.
4. Afternoon: your chauffeur stays with the vehicle nearby. Need a coat or a phone charger? It’s in the bus.
5. Set pickup time and corner, agreed before you get out. Everyone gets a text when the bus is there.
6. Home, with drop-offs at each house so nobody’s driving.

Which vehicle? It depends on your headcount:

• Up to 12: the 12-passenger Sprinter limo.
• Up to 18: the Escalade stretch limo.
• Up to 29: our 29-passenger party bus, the favorite for SantaCon crews.
• Bigger groups: a coach bus.

Ask us about our onboard policy when you book, and we’ll walk you through what’s allowed in the vehicle. You can see more of our night on the town limo service and our bachelor party buses, since a lot of SantaCon groups book the same setup.

Is There a SantaCon on Long Island?

Sort of. There’s no official SantaCon on Long Island, but Farmingdale has hosted a “SantaCon Long Island” style bar crawl in recent Decembers, and Farmingdale also has an ugly sweater bar crawl scheduled for December 5, 2026. Check the event pages for 2026 details before you plan around them.

Staying local? We run the same kind of night closer to home. Our Long Island nightlife limo service covers Farmingdale, Huntington, Patchogue and Long Beach. And if your group would rather see the lights than the bars, take a look at our NYC Christmas lights tour guide or our new Radio City Christmas Spectacular trip guide.

SantaCon NYC 2026: FAQ

What day is SantaCon in NYC in 2026?

Saturday, December 12, 2026. The official listing gives the hours as 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where does SantaCon NYC start?

The start location is announced the week of the event on the official SantaCon NYC website and Instagram. Recent years have kicked off in Midtown Manhattan.

Is there a SantaCon route or map?

There’s no set route. Organizers publish a map of participating bars, mostly in Midtown, and groups choose their own path.

Do you need a ticket for SantaCon NYC?

You don’t need one to dress up and walk around, but the official wristband is what gets you into the larger participating venues. Buy only from the official site or its listed ticket page.

What time does SantaCon NYC end?

The official listing says 9 p.m. Many groups head home earlier, between 6 and 8 p.m.

Can you drink on the LIRR during SantaCon?

In recent years, no. The MTA banned alcohol on the LIRR and Metro-North from Saturday morning to noon Sunday on SantaCon weekend. Check the MTA’s announcement for 2026.

What should I wear to SantaCon?

A full Santa, elf, reindeer or other holiday costume. Add warm layers underneath, comfortable shoes and a small bag for your ID and phone.

How do we get from Long Island to SantaCon as a group?

The easiest way is a party bus or Sprinter van that picks everyone up on Long Island, drops you near the start point and brings you home at a set time. The LIRR works for small groups, but it’s harder to keep a big group together on the way back.

How far ahead should we book a SantaCon party bus?

Book as soon as your group has a headcount. December Saturdays are among the busiest days of the year for party buses on Long Island.

Last updated: November 9, 2026. Date and hours come from the organizer’s official SantaCon 2026 ticket listing. Past LIRR rules come from the MTA. We’ll update this post when the 2026 start location and MTA plan are announced.