Fairfield Fire Department Issues Statement About SantaCon

FAIRFIELD, CT — As the Fairfield prepares for this year's private, ticketed SantaCon on Dec. 6, the town's Fire Department has issued the following statement about its own preparations for the event.

Fairfield police and Fairfield University have made it clear that there will not be a public SantaCon in town this year, instead, the university is hosting a private, ticketed event exclusively for its students and registered guests. All attendees must have a ticket and show identification, and only people 21 years old and older will be allowed to drink alcohol.

In past years, SantaCon has severely impacted Fairfield, with rampant littering, public urination, fights, heavily intoxicated revelers and property damage. More than two-dozen people were transported to area hospitals during last year's event, due to extreme drinking and substance abuse.

"There is no public SantaCon event in Fairfield," fire officials wrote in a Facebook post, reiterating the town's position. "The only sanctioned activity is the private, ticketed event hosted by Fairfield University for its students and registered guests. Anyone arriving in Fairfield expecting a public SantaCon celebration will not find one. Unauthorized social media posts suggesting otherwise are inaccurate."

On Thursday, a 19-year-old Fairfield University student was arrested, after police said he was responsible for posting fake promotions for SantaCon.

Below is the fire department's statement:

The Fairfield Fire Department is joining the Fairfield Police Department and Town officials in issuing a public safety advisory ahead of the private SantaCon event scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025. Our priority, as always, is the protection of Fairfield’s residents, neighborhoods, and visitors.

During the 2024 SantaCon event, the Fire Department experienced a significant and unprecedented strain on emergency services. More than 25 individuals were transported to area hospitals, and Fire Department resources were called upon to manage a commercial structure fire during the event. These incidents underscored the dangers posed by large, unregulated gatherings and the severe impact such events have on the safety of the community.

There is no public SantaCon event in Fairfield. The only sanctioned activity is the private, ticketed event hosted by Fairfield University for its students and registered guests. Anyone arriving in Fairfield expecting a public SantaCon celebration will not find one. Unauthorized social media posts suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.

To safeguard the community, the Fairfield Fire Department will be fully staffed and integrated into the Town’s coordinated response plan. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel will work closely with the Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield University Public Safety, the Town’s Emergency Management Team, and regional mutual-aid partners to ensure rapid response capability throughout the day and night.

Residents can expect increased visibility of fire, EMS, and emergency management personnel throughout the shoreline and downtown areas. As always, the Fairfield Fire Department is committed to ensuring that emergency resources remain available for true emergencies and for the safety of all who live in and visit Fairfield.