Among the many things that Portland, or Portlandia if you prefer, claims to have originated or is the leader of, is Santacon. Supposedly inspired by the “Santa Rampage” in San Francisco, the first “Santacon,” a pub-crawl of revelers dressed as Santa Claus crowded the sidewalks and streets in 1996. The initial event ended in a standoff with police who barred their entrance into the Lloyd Center shopping mall. Santacon was organized – if ‘organized” is the right word – by a group called The Portland Cacophony Society.
Over the years the event grew to over 1,000 drunken Santas roaming the streets and causing general mayhem. In 
response, the “NoPdx Anticon” formed in 2007. Its purpose was to have a slightly more low-key event. The groups formed at the giant Paul Bunyan statue in north Portland and from there to visit neighborhood establishments. An anti-NoPdx Anticon group calling themselves the Bananacon joined in, but for what purpose is unclear. The people dressed in banana outfits made enough of an impact – their rallying cry is, “Bananas are real! Santa is fake!” – that several drinking spots refuse them admission.
Finally, and perhaps inevitably, the Stumptown Santacon, an attempt to bring respectability to Santa’s carousing and also raise money for charity.
Whether or not you believe in Santa Claus, there is no doubt that Santacon exists.
