They are rebels without Klaus.
The creators of SantaCon are now reflecting on the unexpected phenomenon they sparked three decades ago, as highlighted in a new documentary. It turns out that New York City played a significant role in this narrative.
Scheduled to premiere Thursday at DOC NYC, SANTACON delves into the lesser-known origins of absurdist performances that eventually evolved into raucous celebrations marked by excessive drinking, arrests, and odd public behavior, becoming a global concern.
Seth Porges, the director behind the acclaimed film Class Action Park, shared, “This is a story about bigger ideas. It’s about change, moving forward, and accepting a reality that might differ from what we’ve known.”
The documentary features hours of home videos from the early days of Santa Claus-related antics, initially termed “Santa Key.”
The event first popped up in San Francisco in 1994, conceived by the Dissonance Society, the same anarchist group that founded Burning Man and inspired “Fight Club.”
However, the vision of founders Rob Schmidt, John Law, and Chris Radcliffe deviates sharply from what SantaCon has become today. They envisioned hundreds dressed as Santa racing through the city, infiltrating restaurants, and taking over shopping malls.
While there was some substance use, that wasn’t the primary objective.
Radcliffe, who passed away from cancer last year, recalled, “You see someone waking up from this zombie-like state, realizing, ‘Oh my god, there’s something magical happening here.’ It generated a sense of wonder.” But there were underlying elements of folly and absurdity as well.
Porges noted, “The aim was the randomness of absurdity. Within that chaos, we all insert our interpretations and feelings, discovering something within ourselves.”
“It disrupts daily routines and challenges our conceptions of what’s possible. Maybe it even sparks some joy and creativity. Here’s something unlike anything you’ve seen before—what will you do now?”
It may be hard to believe now, but SantaCon was once quite popular. Homemade videos showcase happy revelers dancing as they took over city streets.
Yet, it faced its challenges. The first year saw two arrests, and by the following year, when the Dissonance Society moved Santa Key to Portland, they were confronted by authorities in riot gear, branded as terrorists.
Chapters of the Dissonance Society expanded across the nation, creating their unique versions of SantaCon. However, ideological rifts began to emerge, particularly highlighted by a drunken event in Malibu in 1997, as the documentary explains.
Footage captures the last Santaarchy in New York City in 1998, revealing scenes of Santas on the Brooklyn Bridge, singing carols to director Michael Moore in the streets, and chatting amiably with excited police officers.
In archival footage, Law remarks, “We’re going through tough times, and I think New York is the right place for this.” He adds, “This Santa rushing towards me is a favorite moment because it was purely spontaneous. We just wanted to have fun, spreading cheer wherever we went. It confused people, but in a good way.”
Though Law had contemplated cancelling the event following that Big Apple outing, he realized it was already too late.
Today, SantaCon has morphed into a primarily alcohol-fueled affair that often prompts many New Yorkers to stay indoors for safety.
In recent years, Law had expressed conflicting emotions about his role in shaping what SantaCon has become. However, he and Schmidt ended on a hopeful note in the documentary, feeling joy as they encountered enthusiastic young partygoers who idolized them.
Ultimately, they acknowledged that the enjoyment of the children was what mattered most.
Porges concluded, “Everything changes. The main takeaway is about acceptance. Instead of being frustrated that their creation evolved beyond their original vision, the founders recognize it’s okay for others to carve their paths and inspire new ideas.”
