Taking the Train to and from SantaCon?

By Lanning Taliaferro.

Thousands of people in Santa Claus costumes will fill the streets and subways of New York Dec. 13 for the annual SantaCon, an event described by its organizers as

“A CHARITABLE, NON-COMMERCIAL, NON-POLITICAL, NONSENSICAL SANTA CLAUS CONVENTION THAT HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.”

The start location is always disclosed on santacon.com the night before. Folks sign up, show up for their badges and participant perks at 10 a.m., and follow the route texted to their phones. In costume. From one bar to the next.

SANTACON 2013 raised more than $60,000 for charitable causes. Organizers hope for more in ’14. All proceeds go to the New York Food Bank, FIGMENT Arts Festival, World Hoop and neighborhood charities.

After a lot of criticism, the organizers last year set up some rules, known asSanta’s Creed. Among them: don’t litter, remember your MetroCard, don’t get drunk, and respect cops, bartenders and bystanders (specially kids, because SANTA).

Those rules are still in place. The organizers say,” The Santa Secret Service will be in full effect, listen to them and follow their rules or….we’ve got a sharpshooter elf that will pick you off and put you down quicker than an icicle melting in July.”

In that spirit, the MTA has also prohibited alcohol on trains coming in from the ‘burbs.

Metro North’s ban is 24 hours long.

To maintain orderly travel and safe station and terminal operations during this coming weekend’s SantaCon event, alcohol will not be permitted on Metro-North trains and stations from 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, through 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 14.

MTA Police Officers will be on duty at Grand Central Terminal and outlying stations as well as on trains to enforce this restriction. The police will confiscate alcohol and issue summonses carrying fines of up to $50, imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both. Violators may also be subject to removal from the train or station by police.

Alcohol is generally allowed on Metro-North. The railroad imposes temporary bans on occasion for the safety of customers and train crews.