It’s all a part of Phoenix Santarchy, the annual costumed bar crawl inspired by the Santa Claus mythos where hundreds of people dressed as reindeer, elves, snowmen or anything else holiday-related.
The free event, which is organized by the urban pranksters of the Arizona Cacophony Society, involves an evening-long jaunt between a dozen different bars in downtown Phoenix. It's like a massive roaming party consisting of a throng of costumed revelers.
This year's edition is on Friday, Dec. 15, and organizers are expecting the costumes will be just as lively as ever. Outfits at past events have run the gamut from regular old Santas, elves or reindeer to anything and everything even remotely connected to the holidays, wintertime or the vast Kringle canon, ranging from Jack Skellington to Ralphie Parker in his pink bunny suit.
Chromatest J. Pantsmaker, one of the organizers of Phoenix Santarchy, says he's constantly surprised at some of the creative costumes participants wear.
"It's always amazing seeing what everyone comes up with each (year)," he says.
Events like Santarchy take place every December in cities across the U.S. like New York and San Francisco, where it's known as Santacon. Locally, Santarchy has happened almost every year since 2005 and is attended by thousands.
Santarchy has gotten so big that it's inspired a wealth of competing Santa-themed bar crawls in other parts of the Valley, some of which charge admission or participation fees. According to Chris Lykins, a longtime Arizona Cacophony Society member, Phoenix Santarchy is meant to be a free event.
“If you’re something that’s as popular as this has been, at some point, you're going to get taken over by some commercial entity who wants to make money from it,” Lykins says. “Everyone becomes a victim of their own success sometimes.”
Phoenix Santarchy also benefits a worthy cause, as participants bring hundreds of new, unwrapped toys to donate to local charities. This year, the event is partnering with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
What else should you expect at Phoenix Santarchy on Friday night? Here's a rundown of everything you'll need to know.