Christmas is in the air and that means just one thing to me. SANTA CLAUS PUB CRAWL!
Organizers Albin Ulle and Will Hamilton sent out last week an Evite blast to more than 2,000 people — telling them to get their Santa suits on, buy a new toy and head to LoDo on Dec. 5 for the 8th Annual Santa Claus Pub Crawl. They already have 500 ho-ho-hos and who knows how big this thing could get. It started with just a dozen of Ulle’s pals in 2002. Now it’s a Denver tradition.
“I think I’ve outgrown the Evite,” he says. The crawl is on Facebook, but so far it only has 10 fans.
First of all, go buy yourself a Santa suit, they’re about $50 at Target, Wal-Mart and Lowe’s. If you just show up in a hat you’ll be marked as a rank amateur. Women can be Santa or Santa’s helpers, whatever rocks your sleigh.
The crawl starts at Fado at 1 p.m., where a tree is set up and presents for needy kids are dropped off. Then it’s on to Breck Brewery, Retro Room, The Tavern — and finally Jackson’s. Santa needs a designated reindeer.
The big switch: Ulle moved the start up three hours from previous outings. “I did that for two reasons,” he says. “I want to get a good picture of the hundreds of Santas when there’s light outside. And I’m 40 years old now with a 2-year-old and a pregnant wife. I want to get home before 10 p.m.”
Save that wish for Santa, you woozie.
“It just gets bigger and bigger every year,” Ulle tells me. “It’s not some gigantic booze fest. There is something very funny about being one of 500 Santas, in a sea of red hats and white beards, marching through LoDo.”
Ulle’s great hope is to one day break the record for the most Santas in one place at the same time — which is a tall order, as 13,000 gathered two years ago in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. And Russia claims that 70,000 Santas marched through Moscow in 2006.
Back to the MAX.
Also coming down on Dec. 5 is the always fabulous Max Holiday Fashion Show. Max Martinez is taking it back to the Exdo Event Center — and again the style parade benefits the Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center.
The MAX-Crazed VIP ticket is $1,000 — ringside costs you $300, general admission is $60. Go to .
CATCH!
Legendary NY Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica runs into the Tattered Cover LoDo at 6 p.m. today with his book, “Million-Dollar Throw” and to preside over a football toss contest (sign-up starts at 5 p.m. for kids 8-15). Someone will win $1,000 — which Lupica will present in person in the form of an oversized check!City spirit.
Hey, where’s the love, Hollywood? On Saturday, Harrison Ford and Danny Glover were in town for separate charities. On Monday, it was Fran Drescher and Susan Sarandon in Denver with Michelle Obama. But none of the stars gave a nod to the the Starz Denver Film Festival, going full throttle through Sunday . . . Sez who: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Francis Pharcellus Church
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
