Where was the first SantaCon held in 1994?

The first SantaCon was held in San Francisco in 1994.

SantaCon began as an experimental street performance inspired by the Danish activist theater group Solvognen, which had staged a Santa-themed event in Copenhagen. A group associated with the Cacophony Society organized the San Francisco gathering, where participants dressed as Santa and moved through public spaces.

The event later spread to cities around the world. Modern SantaCons vary widely: some emphasize humorous public spectacle, while others combine costumes with charitable fundraising and organized community activities. The name is generally written as “SantaCon,” combining Santa with “con,” short for convention.

SantaCon is separate from older Christmas parades, retail appearances, and religious Saint Nicholas customs. Its defining feature is the mass participation of adults wearing Santa costumes, rather than a single official Santa appearing for children.