Donations were significantly down for Wollongong's infamous Santa Fest Pub Crawl for Charity this year, but organisers are pleased they gave it a crack instead of letting it be another COVID-casualty.
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Normally drawing a crowd of 10,500 people roaming between various venues, the 27th annual event on Saturday was heavily modified in 2020 due to the ever changing pandemic restrictions.
Each venue had their own events, with a pay-per-view telethon-style live stream of the official party at North Wollongong Hotel.
Last year the charity pub crawl sold more than $200,000 in tickets, but event founder Neil Webster said this year he'd be "surprised" if they made it to $20,000 in donations.
"The most pleasing thing about it is I can say 'we tried', we could have just done nothing, and I appreciate everyone who helped," Mr Webster said, noting online donations were still being taken.
"We had some technical difficulties [with the live stream] ... and unfortunately some things were beyond our control and it affected the output."
With restrictions easing across NSW last Monday - including increased capacity at pubs and clubs, plus bans lifted on dancing and standing up to drink a beer - Mr Webster said this also impacted how many people joined their live stream.
"The awkward part this year was the timing," he said.
"Suddenly everyone was like 'oh great, we can go out again', whereas if that had happened in two weeks time people still would have been stuck at home and our participation numbers would have been much higher."
Despite this, an online streaming component will still return in some form for next year's 2021 event, Mr Webster said.
"Unless we have another outbreak of COVID-19 or some thing else gets in the way, we'll be back bigger and better and stronger next year," he said.
"If there is something that's in the way, we will find a way around it."
The Christmas carols component will continue the celebrations Sunday evening from 6pm, live streamed via Facebook from the Salvation Army headquarters in Wollongong.
All money raised go towards the Salvation Arm Wollongong, the Disability Trust and Diasbled Surfers Association.
Donations can be made HERE.