FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2010 file photo, John Paul, center, of Manhattan, dressed as an Elf and Michael Smallwood, of Brooklyn, dressed as Santa ride the E train downtown in New York for the annual SantaCon pub crawl where participants dress up in Santa and other Christmas themed outfits. SantaCon may be coming to town again, but not everyone is happy about it. Revelers will gather on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 for the holiday tradition of bar-hopping that has drawn the ire of New Yorkers, who complain of misbehavior, and the NYPD, which is asking bars not to serve the Santa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
December 13, 2013 - 12:04 AM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Red-suited revelers are set to throng New York City's streets and taverns this weekend, but organizers say they aim to have a more orderly SantaCon come to town this year.
Complaints about boorish, bar-hopping St. Nicks at previous SantaCons got attention from local officials and police.
So now the event's ringleaders are pledging to advise police of their usually guarded plans and have volunteers help control the roving crowd Saturday.
The event's website vows that they're "cleaning up Santa's act."
SantaCon events unfold in more than 300 cities worldwide. The New York celebration is one of the biggest. It attracts tens of thousands of people, by some estimates.
Enthusiasts say it aims to put a cheeky spin on holiday traditions while generating money for both bars and charities.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013