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An event started in 1994 by a few dozen revelers from the Cacaphony Society and eventually becoming a global phenomenon, SantaCon returned Saturday to the city of its birth for the annual crush of red velvet and grinch green attendees filling San Francisco’s Union Square.
After the economic slowdown of the pandemic, the city’s premier shopping district (well, at least its bars) appreciated the energetic jolt brought by thousands of attendees dressed in reindeer onesies and ill-fitted St. Nick suits.
Among other beneficiaries were the San Francisco Fire Department, which saw its annual toy drive receive dozens of sacks filled with donated holiday gifts.
Attendees arrived by every mode of transportation but sleigh.
Some came by skateboard.
Some came by dinosaur, like Tatiana Perez and Edgar Valdivia.
Other brought smaller pets, like Jamie Joyce with her service dog Kaia.
Some came by foot.
Others by cable car.
Many bore gifts to donate to SFFD’s toy drive.
More gifts cross Powell Street.
Until Union Square was a sea of red velvet.
And occasional dashes of green.
Some dressed as big drummer boys, like Garrick and R.C. performing in the Burlesque Band of San Francisco.
Andrew Martinez finds a hole in his beard to play his mellophone for the Burlesque Band of San Francisco.
Topless tuba player.
Bluetooth headphones or simple Santa earmuffs?
No gathering in San Francisco is complete without a political message.
Many Mrs. Clauses are in attendance.
And as they came, so too did they leave.
Day drinking cue for the Golden Gate Tap Room on Powell Street.
There were no reports of arrests or disturbances.
