"Be LOUD, OBNOXIOUS and JOLLY." That's the first, last and most important rule from the official handbook for L.A. Santacon 2008, an annual pub crawl that reached new highs (or lows, depending on your point of view) on Dec. 6, as nearly 300 Santa-clad revelers made merry and mayhem, often at the same time. Click here to read more on the high-spirited revelry. Pictured here, one of Santacon's elves dances as she walks down Sunset Blvd. with fellow revelers.
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Santacon 2008

"Be LOUD, OBNOXIOUS and JOLLY." That's the first, last and most important rule from the official handbook for L.A. Santacon 2008, an annual pub crawl that reached new highs (or lows, depending on your point of view) on Dec. 6, as nearly 300 Santa-clad revelers made merry and mayhem, often at the same time. Click here to read more on the high-spirited revelry. Pictured here, one of Santacon's elves dances as she walks down Sunset Blvd. with fellow revelers.

“Be LOUD, OBNOXIOUS and JOLLY.” That’s the first, last and most important rule from the official handbook for L.A. Santacon 2008, an annual pub crawl that reached new highs (or lows, depending on your point of view) on Dec. 6, as nearly 300 Santa-clad revelers made merry and mayhem, often at the same time. Click here to read more on the high-spirited revelry. Pictured here, one of Santacon’s elves dances as she walks down Sunset Blvd. with fellow revelers. (Colin Young-Wolff)

As Santacon progressed, Santas flooded El Cid with dozens remaining outside after the bar reached capacity.

As Santacon progressed, Santas flooded El Cid with dozens remaining outside after the bar reached capacity. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Four Santas relax at El Cid and pose for the camera

Four Santas relax at El Cid and pose for the camera (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Clowns protest outside El Cid against the Santa's rough treatment of elves and reindeer.

Clowns protest outside El Cid against the Santa’s rough treatment of elves and reindeer. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Plenty of holiday cheer was in the air on one of Santacon's five schoolbuses chartered for the occasion.

Plenty of holiday cheer was in the air on one of Santacon’s five schoolbuses chartered for the occasion. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Kisses from a Santa during Santacon.

Kisses from a Santa during Santacon. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Two gift-wrapped presents pose in the El Cid hallway.

Two gift-wrapped presents pose in the El Cid hallway. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Two Santas get close at sunset before a Santicon snowball fight broke out.

Two Santas get close at sunset before a Santicon snowball fight broke out. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

One of Santacon organizers gives instructions to the assembled Santas into a megaphone.

One of Santacon organizers gives instructions to the assembled Santas into a megaphone. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

One of Santa's little helpers tries unsuccessfully to pop a wheelie on a BMX bike outside of the 4100 Bar.

One of Santa’s little helpers tries unsuccessfully to pop a wheelie on a BMX bike outside of the 4100 Bar. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

All along the Santacon bar crawl, festive Santas chanted and sung.

All along the Santacon bar crawl, festive Santas chanted and sung. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

A brave Santa tosses a snowball toward the end of a parking lot snowball fight.

A brave Santa tosses a snowball toward the end of a parking lot snowball fight. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Santacon stopped at uWink for dinner as the Santas attempted to order their food on the touch screens.

Santacon stopped at uWink for dinner as the Santas attempted to order their food on the touch screens. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Some Santacons brought their own beverages in outdoor adventure-friendly camel packs.

Some Santacons brought their own beverages in outdoor adventure-friendly camel packs. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

This Santa had been growing his beard for more than five months for the event.

This Santa had been growing his beard for more than five months for the event. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

An "anarchist" Santa rocks a candy cane mohawk.

An “anarchist” Santa rocks a candy cane mohawk. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

One of the midnight riders cyclists looks lost amid the Santacon chaos.

One of the midnight riders cyclists looks lost amid the Santacon chaos. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

A man in a passing car takes a photo of the Santa shenanigans outside the Power House in Hollywood.

A man in a passing car takes a photo of the Santa shenanigans outside the Power House in Hollywood. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Is this Santa covering up from the snow or hiding from the camera?

Is this Santa covering up from the snow or hiding from the camera? (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

One Santa tries to help another to his feet in front of oncoming traffic.

One Santa tries to help another to his feet in front of oncoming traffic. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

There was plenty of time to drink a beverage of choice while waiting for the Santacon buses to fill up and depart for the next destination.

There was plenty of time to drink a beverage of choice while waiting for the Santacon buses to fill up and depart for the next destination. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

This Santa was "arrested" by a female cop and firefighter.

This Santa was “arrested” by a female cop and firefighter. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Santacon revelers continued feeling festive all through the night.

Santacon revelers continued feeling festive all through the night. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Beers were provided to all Santacon attendees before the trip to Jumbo's Clown Room.

Beers were provided to all Santacon attendees before the trip to Jumbo’s Clown Room. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

The annual event Santacon found a mob of Santas descending upon a variety of bars and nightclubs around the Silver Lake and Hollywood area. Here the Santacon Santas show their appreciation for one of the dancers at Jumbo's Clown Room.

The annual event Santacon found a mob of Santas descending upon a variety of bars and nightclubs around the Silver Lake and Hollywood area. Here the Santacon Santas show their appreciation for one of the dancers at Jumbo’s Clown Room. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

A rowdy Santa pretends to hitchhike for passing cars in Echo Park.

A rowdy Santa pretends to hitchhike for passing cars in Echo Park. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

A brief attempt at shopping cart racing breaks out during Santacon.

A brief attempt at shopping cart racing breaks out during Santacon. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

The DJ at Bootie LA at the Echoplex entertains the Santas at the official Santacon afterparty.

The DJ at Bootie LA at the Echoplex entertains the Santas at the official Santacon afterparty. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Big smiles all around at the close of Santacon.

Big smiles all around at the close of Santacon. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

One of the many Santacon revelers works out her moves at Bootie LA at the Echoplex.

One of the many Santacon revelers works out her moves at Bootie LA at the Echoplex. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

A hula hoop dancer entertained the Santacon crowd at Bootie LA at the Echoplex.

A hula hoop dancer entertained the Santacon crowd at Bootie LA at the Echoplex. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Santas hang out while the DJ at Bootie LA at the Echoplex spins mash-ups.

Santas hang out while the DJ at Bootie LA at the Echoplex spins mash-ups. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

Santas mingle on the dance floor at Bootie LA at the Echoplex.

Santas mingle on the dance floor at Bootie LA at the Echoplex. (Colin Young-Wolff / For The Times)

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