"Santa Claws" Is Coming to Town

If the Christmas season is all about helping others, three downtown Scranton bars are set to meet that goal in a new way this weekend.

The inaugural Santacon/Santa Claws Pub Crawl will be held this Saturday, Dec. 1, from 3-7 p.m. at the Backyard Ale House, Whiskey Dick's and The Bog as a benefit for the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Township.

Shelter volunteer Hillary Spangler explained that the business owners approached the shelter with this idea after a friend saw something similar in New York City.

"This person thought the Santacon was a great idea and it raised a lot of money and awareness for Toys for Tots," she said. "The bar owners thought it would be a wonderful experience in the Scranton area all while benefitting a good cause. These are establishments that have been known to raise a lot of money and awareness in the past for local charities."

Spangler explained that a Santacon is a mass gathering of people dressed in Santa costumes or other holiday attire. The faux-Santas then visit different bars, all while spreading some holiday cheer.

"Any fundraiser is beneficial to the shelter and this specific event is a fun way for people over the age of 21 to come together," Spangler said. "Funds from this event will go toward the shelter's emergency vet fund."

All three participating bars will have their own drink specials and raffles. Participants who bring an item to benefit the shelter animals, such as cat litter, hand soap, blankets or paper towels, will receive a free raffle ticket.

Live music will also be provided at all three locations by John Philips of OurAfter and Bryant August with Jay Green at Whiskey Dick's, the Invisible Swordsmen at the Backyard Ale House and Jason Hoffman of UUU at The Bog.

"We think it is fantastic that these bars are all willing to come together to support our homeless animals," Spangler said. "Many of our shelter animals would not get as much exposure and the funds needed for the emergency vet fund, their medical expenses and feeding without events such as this."

Other holiday shelter fundraisers this month will include pet photos with Santa at the Toyota Scion of Scranton on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $5 as well as at the PetSmart in Dickson City on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shelter volunteers will also be on hand wrapping gifts at Boscov's in the Mall at Steamtown on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 22-23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information on the Santacon/Santa Claws Pub Crawl, visit www.santacon.info/ Scranton-PA/ or www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Claws-Pub-Crawl-Scrantons-First-Santacon.

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