Fairfield University and the town are collaborating to host a private SantaCon event on December 6.,The event, open only to students and registered guests, aims to address concerns over property damage and public intoxication from previous SantaCons.Fairfield University and the town are coming together to organize this year’s SantaCon event, implementing new measures to manage the occasion. Fairfield University will host its first private SantaCon event on December 6, which will be open only to students and registered guests.
Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale stated that by making it a university-sponsored event for their students, the message is being sent that Fairfield is not open for a public SantaCon event. The university released a statement citing concerns from town residents regarding property damage, intoxication, and other issues stemming from previous SantaCon events. Town officials believe the private event will be easier to manage.
Reactions from university students to the changes have been mixed, according to Kathleen Morris, a senior at Fairfield University and editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Fairfield Mirror. The private event will be held at Jennings Beach, relocating from the Lantern Point area where previous SantaCons took place. Fairfield police will patrol the area to ensure public safety. The town has advised individuals not attending the event to stay away from the area between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Morris noted that The Fairfield Mirror surveyed university seniors, and some students expressed frustration about having to go to a different part of town for SantaCon. Others supported the school’s decision, viewing the event as a compromise between enjoyment and public safety. Morris also mentioned that while some students have expressed interest in having their own SantaCon, as in past years, the university event is currently gaining traction. She stated that in her personal conversations with students, the majority plan to attend the event at Jennings Beach.
Despite the expected attendance at Jennings Beach, there will be a heightened law enforcement presence. Previous events attracted thousands, and both university officials and police indicated that this strains town resources. According to the university statement, over 80% of attendees last year were not affiliated with the university. Fairfield Police Sgt. Jenna Wellington warned that while the police are not there to spoil the fun, those who plan to come to Fairfield to break the law and disrupt the community will be held accountable.
SantaCon originated in the 1990s as performance art critiquing holiday consumerism, according to previous NPR reporting. It spread rapidly to the Northeast and has since become both popular and controversial. While Fairfield officials praised the university for taking action, Vitale does not foresee SantaCon becoming a town tradition in the near future. She expressed concerns about large numbers of people trespassing, urinating in public, and blocking streets, making it difficult for residents to access their homes.
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