A Santa spotted in the wilds of Downtown LA, November 23, 2023. Photo by Monique A. LeBleu.
This weekend and beyond, the winter holiday season truly begins within Greater Los Angeles when the city’s streets fill with both the most wicked and the most festive of revelers, celebrating in a style that can only be found in the imagination of that tenacious night creature–the colorfully costumed Pub Crawler.
Here’s a merely tentative listing of festive crawls and stumbles available over the next several weeks before ringing in the New Year (or before the ringing in your ears.) Note that a popular Krampus event that is currently sold out has an additional/alternate event scheduled, and there are several new pop-ups this year complete with entertainment and costume contests, as well as food and drink specials, with promises of a jolly good time.
‘Tis the season to be merry and bleary-eyed, come magical gift-giver, naughty-child punisher, or impending apocalypse.
HOLLYWOOD SANTACON 2023 – Saturday, December 9, 2023 – 1 – 8 p.m.
Hollywood SantaCon 2023 is a 7-hour pub crawl event in Hollywood where participants come dressed in Santa outfits, ugly sweaters, reindeer costumes, and even Christmas trees, to “get lit!”
The crawl begins with a check-in at The North End in Hollywood where the streets of Hollywood will then “transform into a sea of red and white” filled with participants in Santa Claus suits, elf costumes, and reindeer antlers. This year’s Hollywood SantaCon will take place in the heart of the city, with various bars, venues, organized by pubcrawls.com.
Participants will receive a Pubcrawls.com Wristband, free entry to participating venues, access to food and drink specials, a costume contest, DJs at select venues, a digital Bar List. The event is for 21+ only and all participating bars and their food or drink specials may be subject to change at the venue’s discretion. Participants are to present their tickets at check-in before time ends to receive their wristband. All sales are final.
The North End – 6423 Yucca St Hollywood, CA 90028
Note: There are other like-organized crawls throughout LA with equal event times.
KRAMPUS COVE POP-UP COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE – LOS ANGELES – Now through December 30, 2023
Krampus’ Cove Pop-up Cocktail Experience at the Lost Property Bar is an immersive cocktail experience celebrating “the pulpy and macabre legend of Krampus and the naughty side of Christmas.”
“Think the devilish nemesis of jolly St. Nick with all of his wicked ways, a soundtrack of unexpected versions of your favorite (or least favorite) carols, whilst sipping on tasty cocktails while evil elves and Krampus himself wander the room, waiting to see if you have been naughty or nice.”
The experience starts with a sipper of vegan nog while the evening’s hosts kick off the evening’s events. A list of themed creepy holiday cocktails will be available once guests are seated. During the week, experiences are scheduled either at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m., and on the weekend, at 3:00 p.m., 5 p.m., or 7 p.m. with each experience approximately 1.5 hours long. From 8:30 p.m., on weekends & 9:30 p.m., on weeknights – 2:00 a.m. the bar will be open with the full menu for un-ticketed walk-in service. Bring valid photo ID.
Tickets are $25, are fully refundable only up to 24 hours prior to the event’s start, and space is limited.
PASADENA SANTA BAR CRAWLS
PUB PIONEERS SANTA STUMBLE PUB CRAWL – Saturday, December 9, 2023 – 5 – 11 p.m.
The Pub Pioneer Santa Stumble Pub Crawl begins with a designated check-in bar between 5-7 p.m., where you’ll receive your map and wristband in order to begin the this pub crawl experience. With fellow merry-makers, all dressed as Santa’s little helpers, visit partnering pubs with exclusive drink and food specials “specially curated just for our Santa Stumblers.”
The Santa Stumble includes a Pub Pioneer Wristband, a digital map of the crawl, food and drink specials, free entry into participating bars, and a chance to be featured on the Pub Pioneer website.
Santacon 2018. Photo by Brian Donnelly.
PASADENA SANTA BAR CRAWL – Saturday, December 9, 2023, 4 – 11:30 p.m.
This Santa Bar Crawl event by PubCrawls.com promises a “stumbling good time” as you “embark on a merry journey through the city’s most famous bars and venues.” The event includes a Pubcrawls.com Wristband allowing free entry to venues, drink and food specials, a Santa Costume Contest, DJ’s at select venues, and a digital bar list.
Note: There are other like-organized crawls throughout the LA area with equal event times.
Tickets are $8.99 (plus Eventbrite fees) and the event begins with check-in at The 35er, begins at 4 p.m. and is 7 hours 30 minutes of bar crawl.
The 35er at 12 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91105.
RED LION TAVERN KRAMPUKNACHT – Saturday, December 9, 2023 – 7:00 pm
“Krampus comes to the Red Lion Tavern to punish those who have been bad,” for Krampuknacht, a celebration of all things merry and German and with a visit from some angry Krampus’.
This landmark Bavarian tavern in Silverlake/Glendale will feature food and drink specials all night, along with extra specials for those who bring a donated gift for their sponsored charity. They naughty (and nice) can crawl through the multi-level bars spaces and up through to the beer garden.
So put on your lederhosen, dirndl, or ugly Christmas sweater for their Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater contest where the winners will receive a sweet gift basket with Red Lion swag and authentic German goodies.
Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door, and price includes entry plus one free drink.
The Red Lion Tavern, 2366 Glendale Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90039
SANTA MONICA SANTACON 2023 – Saturday, December 9, 2023, 1 – 8 p.m.
Brought to you once again by Pubcrawls.com, Santa Monica SantaCon 2023 is a 7-hour pub crawl event through Santa Monica where participants come dressed in Santa outfits and for the season.
This crawl begins with a check-in at Barney’s Beanery Santa Monica in the 3rd Street Pramanade and then onto various bars, venues, organized by host, Pubcrawls.com.
Participants will receive a Pubcrawls.com Wristband, free entry to participating venues, access to food and drink specials, a costume contest, DJs at select venues, and a digital Bar List.
The event is for 21+ only and all participating bars and their food or drink specials may be subject to change at the venue’s discretion. Participants are to present their tickets at check-in before time ends to receive their wristband and all sales are final.
Note: There are other like-organized crawls throughout LA with equal event times.
Barney’s Beanery Santa Monica – 1351 3rd Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santacon 2018. Photo by Brian Donnelly.
SANTA CON LONG BEACH Sunday, December 10, 2023, 1 – 5 p.m.
SantaCon is a ticketed fundraiser event for the BKBIA & Bixby Knolls Community Foundation for its ongoing monthly programs and is a 4 hour-long holiday costume pub-crawl event where you create your own route, at your own pace, to visit the various breweries, restaurants, wine bars, and shops all within walking distance of each other in Bixby Knolls, “Brewery Knolls.” Holiday costumes are mandatory to keep festive.
Tickets and swag will be available for pick-up from 12 pm -2 pm at the Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave.
The Santa tickets are $30 (Must be 21+ to purchase) and include one each of an Enegren Black Lager Pint at EJ’s Pub, a Pint of beer at Rasselbock, a Small wine pour at The Vintage LBC, a Margarita at Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, a Taster at Ambitious Ales, a Taster at Beachwood Brewing, a Taster at Smog City Brewing Co., a Square Slice of Sicilian Pizza at Thunderbolt Pizza, festive accessories & swag (first come, first served; limited quantities), and an event bracelet for specials at participating businesses.
The Santa’s Helper tickets are $20 (designated drivers and kids) and include one each of a Mango Green Tea with 1 topping OR Thai Tea with 1 topping at Ding Tea, one Tamal at Tony’s Kitchen, one Popcorn bag from Pop’n Flavors, one Cotton Candy Cone at Dream Come True, one Hummus & Pita appetizer from Taboon Mediterranean, festive accessories & swag (first come, first served) and an event bracelet for specials at participating restaurants.
Access to specials with your event bracelet includes access to specials, discounts, and secret menu items at participating locations.
Expo Arts Center at 4321 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807
KRAMPUS FEST 2023 – Sunday, December 10, 2023, 1 p.m. until close at 2 a.m.
Krampus Fest 2023 is at The Offbeat Bar In Highland Park, with live bands Joy Revision, Hurt Hawks, Mexican Americans, Psychos, Mood of a Sinner, Strangeways, Lazy Dream Music, Ravenous Wolves, Beautiful Desastres, Puertoaero, The Xray5, Velvet Catherdral, Silver Afternoon, Night Like This, and Geia, multiple DJs, Xmas vendors, & a full bar. Event is +21 and over only. Tickets are $10.
The Offbeat Bar 6316 York Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90042
Krampus Run at Alpine Village 2019. Photo by Elise Thompson.
KRAMPUS RUMPUS, ALPINE VILLAGE 2023 – SOLD OUT!
BUT…
KRAMPUS NIGHTS AT THE PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY – Friday, December 15, 2023, 6 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, December 16, 2013, 6 – 9 p.m.
There will be two Evenings of Folkloric Holiday Traditions at the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) with author Al Ridenour, featuring pre-show Cocktail Hour, live German holiday songs, costumed Krampuses, and a screening of Krampus video highlight reel.
Ridenour is the author of The Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas (Feral House, 2016), the only in-depth English-language study of the folkloric creature. Throughout the event “a contingent of horned and switch-wielding devils from KRAMPUS LOS ANGELES, the troupe founded by Ridenour, will also be on hand to sniff out exactly who has been naughty this year.”
Included are showings of video short compilations, European Krampus videos, DIY horror shorts crafted by Krampus troupes, Krampus disco shows, Krampus music videos for metal bands, along with “workshops for those traumatized by the creature.” Also shown will be a short excerpt from the rare 1955 film, Der Struwwelpeter, which is based on the 1845 children’s book by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman that is filled with illustrations of “naughty children meeting terrible ends.”
Live music will be performed by singer, Christina Linhardt, forming traditional St. Nicholas songs associated with the Krampus, crafts, vendors, a pre-show cocktail hour, craft table with supplies for making a traditional Krampus figure of dried fruit.
Philosophical Research Society – 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027
WASTED KRAMPUS – Friday, December 15, 2023 – 9 p.m. until close
“There is no ho ho hope.” Join tribe Ex Corpse for their annual Wasted Krampus as part of their Wasteland party series. Dress in your “filthiest Krampus character” or come dressed for the apocalypse. Dirty holiday drinks will be served, such as , with live music performances by The Nuclear Bombshells, Lana Layover, DJ’s, and more. Bow before Krampus himself and exchange wares or cash with our traders on the flaming patio.
Please note that this event takes place at a venue with two names. Known as The Oaks Hollywood for karaoke and known as The North End Hollywood for events, you can expect the same fantastic craft drinks, non-Hollywood prices, and a speakeasy vibe.
Note: This event is ticketed with no price, however, donations are suggested for the bands and DJ’s.
Related stories from The Los Angeles Beat.
The 2019 Krampus Run is Happening at Alpine Village in Torrance Saturday!
The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas Book Signing Parties
