- Event Overview
About
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Pub Crawls
Santa Monica’s SantaCon brings the Westside’s beach bar culture and Southern California holiday spirit to one of the few December crawls in the country where the Santa suit is genuinely too warm. The Third Street Promenade, Main Street, and the Ocean Avenue blocks are the heart of Santa Monica nightlife, and when SantaCon arrives the combination of the pier lights, the ocean air, and a few hundred Santas walking between them creates a holiday celebration that could not happen anywhere but the California coast.
Santa Monica is where Los Angeles meets the Pacific, and the SantaCon reflects that mix. The Santa costume competition draws on a Westside crowd that includes the creative industry, the tech offices along the beach, and the people who have lived here since long before either arrived. The entries carry a California combination of real production value and complete refusal to take itself seriously.
December in Santa Monica is mild, typically ranging from 48 to 65 degrees in the evening, with the ocean breeze making the beachfront blocks cooler than the numbers suggest. It is the rare SantaCon where the full suit is comfortable after dark and a genuine liability at the start of the evening. Layer accordingly.
Our hosts manage the Santa Monica route through the Promenade and the surrounding bar district. Specials confirmed at every stop, wristbands handle entry, and the Santa competition celebrates Westside creativity.
Event Detalis
Largest Pub Crawl Event
40,000+ Attendees
100+ Participating Bars
Organized Event
- What's Included
What You Get With a Pub Crawl Ticket
Pub crawls for the biggest party holidays. Choose your event and join the party in 100+ cities across the USA.
Best Santa Contest
Naughty-or-Nice judging all night. The standout Santa wins.
Check-In Drink
Included cocktail or shot waiting for you at the first stop.
Exclusive Drink Deals
SantaCon-negotiated specials active at every bar on the route.
SantaCon Wristband
Your all-access pass for the full evening route.
Dedicated Hosts
Our staff manages check-in, the route, and the costume competition.
VIP Bar Access
Front-of-line entry at select high-demand venues.
Festive Gear Pack
Santa accessories and holiday items at check-in.
Handpicked Route
Bars chosen for their holiday spirit, capacity, and cocktail quality
Participating Venues on the Pub Crawl Route
The 2026Santa Monica SantaCon Bar Crawl route runs through State Street / Capitol Square. All stops within walking distance. Full lineup sent to ticket holders before the event.
How the Pub Crawl Works
Four simple steps to join the St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl and start bar hopping.
Head to pubcrawls.com. Limited spots available per city.
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Exact address included in your ticket email.
Welcome drink, wristband, and Santa accessories at check-in. First bar move at 7:30 PM.
Hosts guide the group through the full route. Costume judging happens throughout.
Event Agendas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Santa Monica SantaCon Bar Crawl?
A ticketed Santa-suit route through Santa Monica bars, run in daylight rather than at night: it starts at one in the afternoon and finishes at eight in the evening.
Why does Santa Monica start at 1:00 PM?
SantaCon is traditionally a daytime event, and an afternoon start suits a beach city where the walking between stops is part of the point rather than something to endure.
Where does the Santa Monica route run?
The Third Street Promenade and the Main Street stretch toward Ocean Park are the two walkable corridors, with the pier between them and the beach a block away throughout.
Can I take the Metro E Line to Santa Monica?
Yes, and it is the right call. The E Line terminates at Downtown Santa Monica station, a block from the Promenade, which removes the parking problem from the day entirely.
Is a Santa suit too warm for Santa Monica?
In December, no. Afternoon temperatures sit in the mid-sixties and slide into the fifties by the eight o'clock finish, which is close to ideal weather for velvet.
Does the 8:00 PM finish end the night?
It ends the organised part. Santa Monica bars keep serving afterwards and the crowd tends to stay put, which is the practical upside of running a crawl in daylight.
Is parking difficult in Santa Monica?
Structurally, yes. The city has structures around the Promenade but they fill on December Saturdays, and the beach lots are slow to exit. Take the train instead.
Can I buy a Santa Monica ticket at the door?
Plan on buying in advance. Check-in runs off the ticket, and a capped afternoon event in a beach city this accessible is not the one to gamble on.
