Hoboken Leprecon Bar Crawl Planned For Saturday

HOBOKEN, NJ — The always controversial Leprecon bar crawl is planned for Saturday in Hoboken again, with St. Patrick's Day-themed events announced for as early as 10 a.m. A second "St. Paddy's"-themed crawl is planned for the following Saturday.

[UPDATE: Final arrest numbers for Hoboken Leprecon 2020 have now been released.]

Holiday-related bar crawls have a checkered history in the mile-square city, beginning in 2012 after Hoboken's longtime St. Patrick's Parade Committee refused to move their traditional parade to a weekday night, ignoring requests from Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who was tired of rowdy house parties and celebrations that were held privately on the same day.

With the parade canceled, independent promoters scheduled their own "Leprecon" bar crawls on the first Saturday of March each year, when the parade traditionally ran. (Hoboken's St. Patrick's Parade was held early so it wouldn't have to compete with other cities' parades for bands).

Each year, police and other officials complain about holiday cons like Santacon and Leprecon, but haven't eliminated them. They have increased enforcement over the years, and have said that conduct is improving.

The police have also publicized a "zero tolerance" policy for violations such as public drunkeness. Fines as high as $2,000 can be a strong deterrent.

Local businesses, for their part, have noted that promotional events help keep keep them afloat through the summer, when patrons head to the shore. The city's responsible bar owners have said that they shouldn't be penalized when people act rowdy in their homes.

Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco has proposed that businesses pay the city for a permit for events such as these.

The "Official Hoboken Leprecon Crawl 2020" site for this Saturday says, "The times might surprise you - starting at 10AM? Yep! That's what Hoboken and the first Saturday in March is famous for."

That event includes four bars, including one founded by Chris and Albie Manzo of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

A spokesman for the Hoboken Police Department said in January that the department had already met twice to plan for the upcoming crawls. Typically, the department has requested deployments from other towns to augment their own.

Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante has live-Tweeted some Hoboken bar crawls in the past, earning fans. We'll post photos on Hoboken Patch as well, and submit yours to caren.lissner@patch.com (let us know if we have your permission to post).

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