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Santacon – the non-sensical Santa Claus convention – returns to Asbury Park Saturday.

Hundreds of white fur-lined, red cladded Santas are expected to launch their jovial descent upon the city’s streets and bars starting at noon from the Asbury Park Train Station.

A tradition in many places around the world, Santacon is a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, event that happens once a year for absolutely no reason, organizers say.

“It’s your chance to be Santa Claus, a reindeer, elf, or any other holiday character,” participant Mark Vetrini said. “Creativity and fun is a must! Just wearing a Santa hat is not enough.”

The event has no formal organizer but as many as 400 people committed to last year’s event.

This year marks the Asbury Park Santacon’s fourth anniversary; the first held shortly after Super Storm Sandy hit the area.

In the winter of 2012, as local businesses were struggling to reopen or stay open, residents decided the area was in desperate need of a fun infusion, Vetrini said. The event was organized as a way to bring people together and help collect donations for local relief efforts.

The bar crawl is a fundraising endeavor to benefit the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Toys for Tots.

Participants are being asked to bring two cans of nonperishable food for the Foodbank or a new unwrapped toy. The Friendly Sons of Shillelagh will collect and transport the donations from the donation table in front of Johnny Mac House of Spirits on Main Street.

For more information, visit the website or Facebook page.

[Photos courtesy of Mark Vetrini]

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