SantaCon, the holiday tradition of Fairfield, draws in crowds filled with college students and is set to make major changes to the operations of the event. Students of Sacred Heart University are concerned about whether they will be welcomed this year amid the changes.
Source: Contributed by Hailey Toles, Fairfield University ’26
Every year around the first Saturday of December, SantaCon is held on Jennings Beach along the strip where Fairfield University seniors rent homes for the school year. Students from SHU, Fairfield, and neighboring colleges wear their best Christmas and holiday-themed attire and fill the beach.
Students say it is a fun way to ring in the holiday spirit and spend their last few days together before going home for winter break.
“I look forward to SantaCon each year. It is a great day to get into the holiday spirit, meet new people, and spend time with my friends and roommates one last time before we leave for winter break,” said senior Gabby O’Connell.
This year, Fairfield has put in place new regulations to limit the number of people who enter. The event has been moved to a new location that has not been disclosed to the public. Fairfield University students who purchased tickets before the event and their registered guests are the only eligible guests allowed into the event.
Throughout the years, students have noticed an increase in police presence and security personnel as crowds have been getting bigger.
“The biggest difference between SantaCon freshman year and my sophomore year was the amount of police presence all along the strip of the beach houses, along with them walking up and down the beach asking to see what was inside people’s cups,” said junior Amy Southall.
Many SHU students are upset and concerned about whether they will be able to attend the annual event.
“SantaCon is something I and all of my friends have been going to since our freshman year, and it’s disappointing to hear that it is a ticketed event only this year,” said junior Sophia Falco.
Sacred Heart officials are warning students to stay away from the beach area, specifically the area of Reef Road where there will be increased police presence.
Dean of Students Denise Tiberio is warning students about the risks that will come with attending a private event that SHU students are not authorized to attend. In an email sent out to students on Nov. 21, Tiberio stated the following consequences and offenses that will be available to students: open container offenses, trespassing on private property or private beach associations, public urination, disorderly conduct and parking violations.
Fairfield Police are taking precautions ahead of time and working with Sacred Heart faculty to ensure that their students follow the rules on the afternoon of Dec. 6.
“We have fewer concerns than in previous years because the format of the event has changed for this year. This year’s SantaCon will be a private, ticketed event,” said Tiberio.
It is important to note that only registered guests with a ticket accompanied by a Fairfield University student are eligible to attend.
“Fairfield police have advised all those without a ticket to the SantaCon event to stay away from Fairfield beaches on Dec. 6, and we have given our students the same advice,” said Tiberio.
All SHU students should be aware of the beaches to stay away from to avoid being mistaken as a trespasser.
“All beaches will be closed, and public access will be restricted. Lantern Point will be fully shut down, and there will be a strong police presence in the area,” said Tiberio.
Rather than attending SantaCon, SHU students are encouraged by administrators to attend the Men’s Ice Hockey game at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Martire Family Arena.
