— Photo courtesy Expo-4-Life
Christmas is coming. And one of the first signs of the season will be the 3rd Annual Newport Beach Santa Crawl on Dec. 13 on the Balboa Peninsula.
Newport Beach based event production company, Expo 4 Life, is hosting the festive event.
Who doesn’t like to “dress up and eat and drink and be merry?” asked Expo-4-Life vice president of sales, marketing and business development, and NB resident, Brad Goldston.
“This is a way to bring everybody together in a communal affair in a more casual (fun) event,” he added. “It brings the fun back to fundraising… We’re looking to raise money, but also want people to have a good time.”
Funds will benefit the Eli Home, an Anaheim-based organization that helps abused women and children. The event also includes a toy drive.
Last year, the event raised a few thousand dollars and collected more than 500 toys.
The charity will receive 100 percent of the sales from wristbands and opportunity drawing tickets. The bars also donate 20 percent from food and beverage sales and many participants make donations to the nonprofit.
The crawl starts at 1 p.m. at Malarky’s Irish Pub, then makes stops at Newport Beach Brewing Co., Avila’s El Ranchito and American Junkie before finishing at 6 p.m. The jolly group will spend about an hour at each stop.
Along the route there will be opportunity drawings, drinking games, a costume contest and other festivities. Prizes from the drawings include sports tickets, vacations, massages and more.
— Photo courtesy Expo-4-Life
After the event officially ends, many people still hang out and eat and have fun, Goldston noted.
Organizers are expecting more than 300 participants, who are encouraged to dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Santa’s helper, reindeer or in other festive costumes.
“Part of the fun is dressing up in costume,” Goldston said.
Anybody and everybody can participate, he added. A broad range of people attended last year, from college students to senior citizens, he noted.
Tickets cost $30 for a regular wristband, $40 for VIP, and $15 for each ticket for groups of 10 or more. The VIP ticket includes avoiding the line, a complimentary cocktail, and 10 opportunity drawings.
Sponsors include Malarky’s Irish Pub, Newport Beach Brewing Co., Avila’s El Rachito, American Junkie Newport Beach, OC Weekly, Fireball Whiskey, Black Magic Rum, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Deep Eddy Vodka, and Never Hung Over.
Expo-4-Life will also host a pre-party beer tasting and toy drive on Dec. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Beach Hut Deli at 488 E 17th St., in Costa Mesa.
Bring in a new, unwrapped toy and/or buy a Santa Crawl Ticket to receive beer tasting tickets.
Each ticket is good for three tastings of 4-6 ounce pours. Beer will be provided by Ninkasi Brewing Company. Toys are donated to the Eli Home – helping put a stop to child abuse. Happy Hour prices all night long.
For more information, visit expo4life.com/santacrawlnb and elihome.org.
