Pub crawl all for a good claus

By Matthew Jones
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:41pm, first published December 10 2009 - 10:20pm
The devil's in the detail: Santa Claus parachuted into Stuart Park yesterday to help Santa Pub Crawl founder Neil "Satan Claws" Webster finalise plans for this year's event. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The devil's in the detail: Santa Claus parachuted into Stuart Park yesterday to help Santa Pub Crawl founder Neil "Satan Claws" Webster finalise plans for this year's event. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Pub crawl all for a good claus
Pub crawl all for a good claus
Pub crawl all for a good claus
Pub crawl all for a good claus

He's making a list, he's checking it twice - but who knows if he'll be able to remember it on Sunday morning.Santa dropped into Wollongong's Stuart Park yesterday to launch the annual Santa Claus Pub Crawl, which will jingle and stumble its way through Wollongong tomorrow night.More than 2500 Christmas characters are expected to attend, from elves to angels and everything in between.

  • SLIDESHOW: Santa Claus drops in The festive bash is the work of Neil "Satan Claws" Webster, a University of Wollongong graduate who described himself as "38 going on 16".Mr Webster said the crawl started as a bit of a joke among uni mates more than 15 years ago, but soon gathered a reputation as a night not to be missed."It started off as a bit of fun and just snowballed," he said.Today, the event attracts pub-goers from as far afield as the United States. While it will be a chance to relax and have a drink - or several - Mr Webster was quick to point out that the night would be raising funds and collecting toys for the Salvation Army's First Floor program, which supports the families and carers of people affected by addictions."This is an opportunity to give something back - I think people forget the meaning of Christmas, so it's a chance to have fun and support a good cause," Mr Webster said.For basketball fans, the Wollongong Hawks will also be offering a special deal - $10 tickets will be available from 6pm for anyone who goes to tomorrow night's game at WIN Entertainment Centre in their Santa outfit and quotes the password "pub crawl".Wollongong-based Longboard Brewing will also be taking a percentage of sales from every Longboard beer sold on the night and donating it to the Salvation Army.Mr Webster said there were just two requirements to be part of the crawl - festive dress, even if it's only a Santa hat, and a sense of humour.
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