Author: Saratoga TODAY

For many people, hearing the words “SantaCon” creates images of Caroline Street being overcrowded, of lots of drinking, and of the craziness associated with an alcohol-related event. SantaCon organizer Brian Miller hopes to change that perception to one of community and local business support, and to inspire other business owners to get more involved in their community. 

Miller’s involvement with Saratoga SantaCon began while he worked as a Brand Ambassador, and later Sales Representative, for Saratoga Eagle. The event needed a liaison between the participating bars and the third-party group that was organizing it, and Miller stepped up to the task. Shortly after, the original organizer turned the keys over to Miller. Now, he is the organizer of Saratoga SantaCon, and also the Events Director at The Bourbon Room.

What started as a Caroline Street event that 75-100 people attended, has now blossomed into a downtown, large-scale event. On December 13, 2025, over 3,000 “Santas” descended on Caroline Street and Phila Street and the 15 participating bars. Saratoga SantaCon is the largest pub crawl in the Capital District and potentially is a top five pub crawl in upstate New York. 

People travel from across New York State, and even from Vermont to attend the event. Miller noted, “It helps being in Saratoga and having all of the bars in one concentrated area, having a beautiful downtown, and having hotels and restaurants here where people can make it a weekend.” 

While Saratoga SantaCon provides attendees with a fun holiday experience, it also has a beneficial impact on the Saratoga community in two ways – by supporting a local non-profit, and through the effects it has on bars and restaurants. 

Franklin Community Center (FCC) was selected as the beneficiary of the event by the original organizers, and 100% of the proceeds benefit the agency. Originally, the fee to attend the event was a donation of five non-perishable food items to benefit the FCC Food Pantry. Over time, Miller and FCC transitioned away from collecting items, as it created logistical challenges with storing food overnight in a climate-controlled area and securing a donation of trucks to transport them from Caroline Street to the Food Pantry. Also, the holidays are typically a time of increased donations for the Food Pantry, making financial contributions more needed.

Now, attendees purchase tickets to participate in the event, and all of the proceeds benefit FCC. In 2025, the event raised $26,565 – the most successful year yet, an increase of over $10,000 from the previous year’s total. The funds generated through the event help support FCC in carrying out its mission year-round. FCC serves over ten thousand individuals in Saratoga County each year through its essential programs: Food Pantry, Free Store, Project Lift, Student and Family Services, and Franklin Community Manor. 

In addition to the community impact, Saratoga SantaCon positively benefits downtown businesses. For most bars and restaurants, the winter months are the slowest, which creates real challenges for businesses to stay afloat. Saratoga SantaCon brings in thousands of people, who spend money at almost a dozen bars and restaurants throughout the day. For some establishments, the profits made on the event date alone help generate enough to keep them in business through the winter. This year, the event generated over $500,000 in revenue for the businesses.

What’s next for Saratoga SantaCon? Miller hopes to continue to expand to become a larger scale community event that is highlighted by the pub crawl. His vision? Victorian Streetwalk meets Saratoga Fall Fest, but make it Christmas! The goal is to create opportunities for businesses to host family-friendly activities and events during the day, while still providing the fun atmosphere for the “Santas” in the evening. 

Miller hopes that business owners are inspired by the success of Saratoga SantaCon, and help organize their own events or take part in existing ones. Miller says, “As a business owner, on a popular street, use your popularity for good. I don’t think enough people do that.” 

His favorite part of Saratoga SantaCon is the level of care the bars and restaurants put into it. He noted that as the first to arrive on Caroline Street, he sees all of the businesses getting ready – putting up their decorations, having staff arrive early, and being prepared to give it their full attention. Their ownership of the event ensures its success, “…when you rely on it, you care if something happens to it,” states Miller. 

Going forward, Miller’s aim is for businesses to “…realize that the largest resource they have to create their own event like this is them.” And if they need help getting started, Miller says, “I’m always open to ideas.”

This December, when you think of Saratoga SantaCon, think of the event’s lasting impact on the Saratoga community through non-profit and local business support.

The Saratoga Lake Association (SLA) today commended Town of Wilton Highway Superintendent Michael Monroe and the Town of Wilton for securing a New York State Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant to construct a new, modern salt storage facility, a major investment in protecting water quality in the Saratoga Lake watershed.

Superintendent Monroe has announced that the Town has been awarded $600,000 under the State’s 2025 WQIP program to build the new salt shed. The project is designed to prevent salt and salt-laden runoff from leaching into stormwater systems, streams, groundwater, and ultimately Saratoga Lake. This is the second WQIP grant secured by Monroe for Wilton, bringing the total external funding obtained for water-quality-related infrastructure to approximately $1.5 million.

“Mike Monroe has set the gold standard for municipal highway operations in the Saratoga Lake watershed,” said James DeMasi, President of the Saratoga Lake Association. “This project is not just about improving operations—it is about stopping pollution at its source. Proper salt storage is one of the most effective and practical ways to reduce the long-term chloride loading that threatens our lake and its tributaries.”

A modern, fully enclosed salt storage facility is a cornerstone of best management practices for winter road maintenance. By keeping salt protected from rain and snowmelt and by controlling drainage and material handling, the new Wilton facility will eliminate a major, and often overlooked, pathway by which chlorides enter the environment before they ever reach the roadway.

“This is about doing our job better and more responsibly,” said Superintendent Monroe. “We can keep roads safe for the public and, at the same time, be better stewards of our water resources. This new facility is an important step in that direction.”

This investment complements the broader, forward-looking program already implemented under Monroe’s leadership, including calibrated spreaders across the fleet, the adoption of live-edge plow technology, and the introduction of brine pretreatment to reduce overall salt usage.

“Superintendent Monroe has shown that public safety and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” DeMasi added. “Wilton is demonstrating what modern, responsible highway management looks like in a sensitive watershed. We strongly encourage other municipalities in the region to follow Wilton’s example.”

The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, recently unveiled an accessible bus for residents of the Wesley Health Care Center. Funding of the Frontrunner® Low-Floor Minibus by Frontrunner Bus Group, Inc. was made possible in part by Wesley’s annual gala and golf tournament, and The VMJR Companies’ 6th Annual Architects vs. Engineers Golf Tournament. 

The accessible minibus, which seats 14 passengers, does not require steps or a wheelchair lift due to its low-entry platform, providing easier boarding access for residents with mobility challenges. The new bus will be utilized to transport Wesley residents to various off-site activities and is intended to foster greater independence and enhance overall quality of life.     

The Wesley Foundation’s La Dolce Vita 2025 annual gala and the Saratoga 9 & Wine golf tournament raised more than $130,000 toward the purchase of the bus. 

Additionally, VMJR presented a check for more than $68,000 to Wesley, the beneficiary of its annual golf tournament that was conducted this past fall, making it possible for the non-profit senior health care center to secure the purchase of the bus with funds to spare, which will be allocated for other vital services. 

“We feel privileged to have been chosen as the recipient of VMJR’s Architects vs. Engineers annual Golf Tournament fundraiser and the outstanding donation generated by that event,” said The Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon. “We are also gratified with the success of our own fundraisers which have made it possible for us to purchase a much-needed, low-entry bus for residents with mobility issues. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all who supported this important initiative.”

The annual VMJR golf tournament raises funds for local non-profits and selects a different organization each year as the beneficiary from entry fees, sponsorships, raffles, and food and beverage sales generated by the event.