Guidelines
Get answers to all your queries about our festive themed activities. Learn how SantaCon has become a beloved tradition and what to expect at our events.
A secret holiday mission awaits beneath the streets and stories of Downtown San Mateo. A scavenger hunt, food and beverage experience, LIVE auction, and social festive mischief – all for a good cause.
Only 200 Santas will be initiated into this year’s secret games.
Enter your details to receive your briefing and important updates for Santa Mateo 2025.
Sign up using the secure Eventbrite checkout to confirm your participation at Santa Mateo 2025!
This year, our community celebration is proud to support NAMI San Mateo County.
Every dollar goes directly to NAMI San Mateo County, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Your contributions support their essential programs:
Santa Mateo 2025 is a dual celebration: half exciting scavenger game, half festive pub and food crawl.
Participating Downtown businesses will host mini-games and offer Santa Mateo–only specials from 5–8 PM for registered members of Santa’s Secret Society.
At Santa Mateo, our misson is to spread cheer through playful absurdity, friendly competition, and a touch of mischief. We come together to celebrate the holiday season with quirky challenges, festive fun, and community spirit—all while partying for a good cause.
Get answers to all your queries about our festive themed activities. Learn how SantaCon has become a beloved tradition and what to expect at our events.
A Santa hat isn’t enough! Get creative with you Santa Suit or embrace the red theme; elves, reindeer, and trees are appreciated.
Have fun, but keep it together. Public intoxication could ruin Santa’s good reputation.
If you see children, give them a smile. Santa brings joy, not tears!
If a spot isn’t Santa-friendly, move on politely. Tip generously to spread the holiday cheer.
Look out for fellow Santas, especially when moving to new stops. Santa doesn’t leave Santa behind!
Don’t drink and drive. Arrange for safe transportation to make it home jolly and safe.
It started as a playful spoof on Santacon — and evolved into something far more playful. It’s not exclusively a pubcrawl. Santa Mateo blends absurd holiday fun with a charitable mission, local food and drinks, and a dash of mystery.
Yes — registration is required. To keep the event organized and within venue capacity limits, attendance will be capped at the first 200 registrants.
No — Santa Mateo is a free event. However, we invite you to take part in our live charity auction at McGovern’s, where you can bid on incredible local experiences, restaurant gift cards, and prizes.
Top performers in the games will take home bragging rights and be entered in a prize raffle.
Expect a mix of amazing local experiences and dining gift cards. All proceeds go directly to NAMI San Mateo County, supporting local mental-health programs.
Absolutely — and it’s a showstopper. The Best Costume Contest celebrates the most creative, committed, and downright ridiculous Santas, elves, reindeer, and misfits. Go big or get coal.
We love kids but please leave them at home. Time for the adults to play.
Have fun but keep it responsible. Public intoxication is discouraged, as we want to keep the event joyful and safe for everyone!
If you’re interested in partnering with Santa Mateo, have questions about becoming an official sponsor, or want to stay on the nice list with all our updates, please reach out to us!
I’m the life of the Santa Mateo party! From leading the charge in holiday games to dancing through the night, I make sure every Santa is feeling the cheer. Let’s make this a night to remember!
With a sparkle and a smile, I bring the jingle to Santa Mateo! I’m here to add that festive flair, keep the games rolling, and spread holiday joy to everyone I meet. Ready to make some merry memories?
Wrapped and ready, I’m all about bringing the hype! Whether it’s pumping up the crowd or handing out prizes, I’m here to keep the party spirit high and the laughs coming. Let’s unwrap some fun together!
Ho ho ho! I'm here to spread cheer and keep the holiday spirit alive—one laugh, one game, and one toast at a time!
This is the coolest event of the year—where the holiday cheer is as big as a snowstorm, and everyone’s on my nice list!
On Dec 7, 2024, six teams—Gift Graham, Pine Prancer, Bell Bauble, Bill Blizzard, Rosie Rap and Dizzy Dreidel lit the official Santalympics torch and dashed through games, rallies, and downtown shenanigans. Medals were won, heads turned, and joy was everywhere.
San Mateo’s tallest Santa got his annual holiday hat, delighting crowds and baffling Leon.
Thirty Santas, six teams, endless cheer—spreading joy from Central Park to downtown.
Reindeer Rumble, Candy Cane Chaos Relay, Holiday Hoopla Charades, Snowball Showdown, and Santa’s Scavenger Hunt—teams raced through challenges, ending in a high-energy finale at the train station.
Our head elves kept Santas in line, scores on track, and the whole sleigh flying.
In 2023, SantaCon took a techy twist with HollyAI, a quirky AI, relocating the event to San Mateo and crafting 10 whimsical challenges. Participants navigated Holly’s holiday hijinks with teamwork and cheer to teach her the true spirit of SantaCon.
This playful spirit thrived, even through the challenges of the pandemic. The event adapted with inventive games and antics, blending creativity with safety while keeping the holiday mischief alive. As themes and activities evolved, the community continued to grow, proving that the joy of SantaCon can endure anything.
The 12 Random Acts of SantaCon tested skills in creativity, mindfulness, and holiday spirit.
The pandemic paused SantaCon, leaving streets quiet but spirits hopeful for brighter days.
SantaCon returned with pandemic-themed challenges, blending creativity, caution, and cheer.
SanTACO(n) turned SantaCon into a festive, taco-themed competition full of flavor and fun.
SantaCon began in 1994 in San Francisco as a satirical, creative critique of holiday commercialization. Over time, it became a global, commercialized bar-crawl event. In 2015, a group of San Franciscans revived its playful roots by adding games, art, and humor to celebrate creativity and community.
Participants embraced Buddy the Elf’s antics with challenges inspired by the movie, spreading cheer and laughter.
Santa took a rain check as storms brought a quiet, reflective year for all.
Santacon became a race to find the real Santa through thrilling challenges and puzzles.
Teams performed 12 holiday film-inspired acts to bring Christmas magic back to SantaCon.
