Santas Gone Wild!

This weekend we went up to Reno so I could do some vintage shopping, and we got a dirt cheap off-season room special at The Sands ($15!), so we decided to make a weekend of it. The pass over the Sierras was forecast to snow-free for once, so off we headed-- with a few red and green pieces from the old wardrobe, since we learned that we were hitting Reno just in time for the annual Santa Pub Crawl. This was actually our second time in attendance, and we were so stoked to get to witness it again. It is the biggest Santa Crawl on the West Coast, and the whole city comes alive with crazy Christmas energy... and beer!

The festivities begin on the sidewalk outside the hotel. While you are not technically supposed to carry an open container around Reno, on this night, no one can stop you, and this was a cause to celebrate in my eyes.

Vegas' motto may be "What Happens In Vegas, Stays in Vegas", but Reno has actually been around waaaay longer, and its motto (somewhat more prudent, since it is from another era) is actually emblazoned on the famous arch in the center of town:

Ahem, that last word is "world". And to us, it actually IS the biggest little city. It is way closer to Grass Valley than San Francisco, and while it is actually smaller than Sacramento, it has "big city" type stuff that you would normally expect in major metropolises, and then some, being Nevada. Like smoking indoors, and legal prostitution. And, on this night, thousands upon thousands of Santas. Really crazy Santas.

Of course, not everyone is "Santa" (or "Slutty Mrs. Claus"- yawn, so tired of that. As Chris said, "how is it a present if there is nothing to unwrap?") There are characters from the entire Holiday Spectrum. Behold:

I think this is the Abominable Snowman.

Dang it, this one is blurry, but can you see that this guy is actually Edward Candy Cane Hands? Oh my God!

Yup, poinsettias. Genius. 

There were also some Mystery Characters, aka, Things That Make You Go "Huh?":

 

?Wrestling Santa?

Why, I think I spy an Ugly Christmas Sweater in that photo above! And it was not the only one... oh no... far from it. We went on an Ugly Christmas Sweater hunt:

Double points for combo Ugly Christmas Sweater AND furry snow animal. 

This guy on the right MADE his own Christmas sweater. Bonus.

The feeling of "triumph" in this pose really sells the whole thing. Way to rock it, sir. 

These two pictures really have to be seen together for this all to make sense. Well, maybe it won't ever actually make "sense", but I am head over heels in love with their "costume":

We heart Christmas!

Thanks to Chris for taking several of these amazing pictures. (-:

 

Comments

[bella vintage]

oh my Christmas sweaters in all there beauty!

[HollyB]

Reno!!! You guys rock, Reno rocks, and thousands of Santas rock. This post made my day!

[Evelyn]

And Chris has the Adorable Christmas Sweater prize!! And Sasha - the eternal adorableness prize!!
Sounds like a great get-away.. did you get any "finds"??

[*winter]

hahahaha looks like a blast !

[heather]

OH. MY. GOD. this rules so much, i am laughing my ass off and you just MADE my morning. for some reason i absolutely ADORE the two guys underneath the guy who made his own sweater. they're so damn casual about their grandma holiday cheer. i thought i was bad, dorkily celebrating every little christmas cliche, but THIS. obviously reno is the land where christmas cliches come to glaring, wondrous LIFE. i am so in love with this ALL.

including your dress, wrist warmers (?), coat, and hat! can't wait to see you sunday!