Fairfield Officials To Discuss Annual SantaCon In Beach Area Tuesday

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield officials will host a discussion Tuesday night on the annual SantaCon event, a large, college drinking party held each December in the town's Beach Area.

Tuesday's Community Conversation, which was put together by First Selectman Bill Gerber, is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at Fairfield Warde High School.

As of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the event was still a go, despite the possibility of inclement weather. The discussion will also be streamed online by FairTV here.

"A panel of Town officials will be present to listen to your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions, and I invite you to attend," Gerber wrote in a Town Update.

The event has long been a source of concern among many Fairfield residents, particularly those who reside near the beaches, due to the amount of drunkenness, garbage and overall rowdy behavior it elicits. The most recent edition was no exception, with Fairfield police saying the December 2023 version led to the following:

• 6 infractions for open container.
• 5 infractions for Creating a Public Disturbance.
• 2 Misdemeanor Summons for Disorderly Conduct.
• 1 full Custody arrests for trespassing.
• 17 transports to the hospital.

Though it is not officially associated with Fairfield University, hundreds of the school's students participate in the event, and they invite friends from other schools.

Following the most recent edition, Fairfield officials continued conversations about the future of the event, which led to the scheduling of Tuesday's discussion.

Gerber said the future goal for the event is to limit its size to "mitigate any future environmental impacts, and be prepared to enforce our community standards."