Matchwood to hold first SantaCon
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint will be welcoming its first SantaCon this year, organized by Matchwood Brewing Company.
The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, and will take place across the granary arts district and downtown Sandpoint.
The event will feature a family friendly community gathering from 2 to 6 p.m. complete with a DJ and Parnell Ranch’s Clydesdale horses and carriage rides. After the community gathering will be a Santa pub crawl through downtown Sandpoint from 6 to 8 p.m. and to finish the evening, there will be a “Naughty List Party” for those 21 and over at the 219 Lounge with the first ever best of SantaCon costume competition.
To take part in the festivities, those planning to attend can register early for their SantaCon passport online for $10 by going to www.matchwoodbrewing.com/santacon; or attendees can buy one the day of the event for $15.
Matchwood Brewing Marketing and Events Manager Emily Golphenee said the company had been considering putting the event on for several years before it finally took shape.
“(We) had a dream of doing it, but it never came together,” Golphenee said. Then the company decided, “This year let’s jump and see what happens.”
In organizing the event, Golphenee said they got nothing but positive responses from other businesses in the community.
“Everyone we reached out to was an instant yes,” Golphenee said.
Matchwood plans to expand the event to include more local partners if this year’s SantaCon is a success.
Golphenee said the impetus for the event was one energized community member who brought the idea to Matchwood years ago.
Chad Evans said he had seen other SantaCons in bigger cities in years passed and several years ago it occurred to him, “Well, it would be kind of fun to do something like that.”
Evans brought up the idea to Matchwood Co-owner Andrea Marcoccio in line at Evans Brothers coffee and he said she supported it right away.
Evans said he is excited for the event and has been growing out his beard for some time, making it perfect for his Santa costume.
Golphenee encouraged any and all to come dressed in their best Santa outfit, ready to raise money for a good cause and spread holiday cheer.
The event will raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which recently opened its first clubhouse in North Idaho, in Sandpoint.
With North Idaho’s long winter right around the corner and the mental health impacts that come with it, Golphenee said NAMI felt like the right organization to support this year; especially with their recent clubhouse opening.