- Event Overview
About
Winston-Salem, NC
Santa Pub Crawls
Winston-Salem’s SantaCon brings the Twin City’s bar culture and North Carolina holiday spirit to one of the most arts-committed December celebrations in the Piedmont Triad. The Trade Street arts corridor, Fourth Street, and the Innovation Quarter have developed into a vibrant downtown scene and when SantaCon arrives the combination of the UNCSA and Wake Forest creative community, the Reynolds tobacco heritage buildings that house the city’s finest bars, and the excellent local bars creates a holiday celebration with a Winston-Salem character that is warm, sophisticated, and completely Piedmont North Carolina.
Winston-Salem has one of the strongest arts communities in the South anchored by the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the SantaCon reflects that creative investment. The Santa costume competition draws on the UNCSA student and faculty community and the Wake Forest academic scene and the entries have an artistic quality that is specific to a city that has made arts education a core civic identity.
December in Winston-Salem is cold to cool, typically ranging from 28 to 42 degrees at night. The Piedmont Triad winter has a Carolina character and the Trade Street bar community is beautifully positioned in historic buildings that provide warm, atmospheric SantaCon venues.
Our hosts manage the Winston-Salem route through Trade Street and the downtown bar district. Specials confirmed at every stop, wristbands handle entry, and the Santa competition celebrates Twin City arts 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.
Santa Costume Contest
Best Santa outfit wins a prize. Creativity and commitment both count.
Welcome Shot at Check-In
One complimentary shot poured the moment you arrive.
Bar-to-Bar Drink Specials
Exclusive SantaCon pricing at every stop on the route.
Official SantaCon Wristband
One wristband unlocks every participating bar.
On-Site SantaCon Hosts
Our team keeps the route moving and the costume judging fair.
Priority Entry at Select Venues
Skip the line at participating bars with your wristband.
Holiday Party Accessories
Festive gear handed out at check-in.
Curated Bar Route
Stops selected for atmosphere, drink quality, and Santa energy.
Participating Venues on the Pub Crawl Route
The 2026 Winston-Salem SantaCon 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
When is Winston-Salem SantaCon?
Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM. That is a full evening window, running from late afternoon through to a proper late finish. The wristband is what gets you in at every participating door.
Which part of Winston-Salem does the route use at SantaCon?
The Fourth Street blocks and the Innovation Quarter, with Old Salem's seasonal programme running a short distance south. Your confirmed check-in venue arrives with the ticket confirmation.
How cold is Winston-Salem in mid December?
Cool, usually in the 30s and 40s after dark. The Piedmont stays milder than the mountains, so a Santa suit handles the walking between stops without a coat over it.
Is Old Salem worth seeing that day?
Very much. The restored Moravian settlement runs candle tea and seasonal programming through December, which is a genuinely distinctive thing to do before an evening crawl. Your ticket confirmation carries the specifics.
How does this differ from Wilmington SantaCon?
Timing mostly. Wilmington runs a daytime window finishing at eight, while Winston-Salem takes the full evening, which makes for a later and rowdier night. Ask at check-in if anything is unclear.
Is downtown Winston-Salem walkable at SantaCon?
Comfortably. A few blocks of Fourth Street cover most of the route, and a costumed crowd moving slowly between them is part of what makes the afternoon work.
Do the Santa suits get competitive here?
Reliably. December crawls in the Piedmont draw real effort, and a room full of Santas rewards anyone who has bothered to do something different with the costume.
Should I arrange a ride home in Winston-Salem at SantaCon?
Yes. Rideshare demand across Forsyth County climbs on December Saturdays, and the drive out to the surrounding suburbs is a real distance from downtown. A designated driver solves the problem outright. 10 city pages | 8 FAQs each
