Fairfield Police Department Issues Warning Before SantaCon 2025

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield police are issuing a warning before this year's SantaCon event next month, urging the public to stay away from the town on Saturday, Dec. 6, because no public event is planned, according to authorities. The only SantaCon-themed event will be a private one hosted by Fairfield University exclusively for its students and registered guests. (See the university's announcement below)

That event is a ticketed gathering for Fairfield University students and their registered guests; all attendees must have a ticket and show identification; only people 21 and older will be allowed to drink alcohol, authorities said.

The advisory comes a year after thousands of young people descended on Fairfield’s beach neighborhood during SantaCon weekend in 2024, creating safety hazards, quality-of-life issues, an unsustainable strain on emergency services, and prompting concerns from residents. Officials said the beach area, which consists largely of private property and beach associations, cannot support large, unregulated crowds.

Fairfield Police Chief Michael Paris emphasized that while the department respects the rights of all individuals, Fairfield will not tolerate disruptive, unsafe, or unlawful behavior that threatens the peace of the community. He noted that the town’s response and communication plan reflect lessons learned from 2024 and the priority of protecting Fairfield’s residents and neighborhoods.

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"Our priority is protecting our residents, our neighborhoods, and everyone’s safety," Paris said in a statement. "If you are not invited to the private event, do not come to Fairfield expecting a public SantaCon celebration. There isn’t one. Our message is simple: If you come to Fairfield to break the law or disrupt this community, you will be held accountable."

Town officials, university representatives and police developed new measures for this year to avoid a repeat of last year’s problems, according to the department.

Police also said that recent social media posts advertising additional SantaCon gatherings in Fairfield are false and under review by law enforcement. Anyone without a ticket to the university event will be turned away.

First Selectman Christine Vitale echoed Paris' sentiments. "If you are planning to travel to Fairfield for this event, don’t. We are putting extensive plans in place so that our neighborhoods or emergency services are not overwhelmed. I want our residents to know that our police will be there and will be looking for all violations of the law, including trespassing. Our community’s protection is our first consideration."

The Fairfield Police Department, working with university public safety officers, the State’s Attorney’s Office, regional law enforcement partners, private security, the town’s emergency management team and other local officials, plans to maintain a "substantial presence" in the beach and downtown areas throughout the day. Parking restrictions in the beach area will be strictly enforced, and illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and towed, the department said.

Authorities said all violations — including trespassing, open-container offenses, disorderly conduct and other infractions — will be addressed immediately.

Below is the event's announcement from Fairfield University:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield University is hosting a sanctioned SantaCon event on Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jennings Beach for Fairfield University students and their limited number of registered guests. The event will be ticketed and closed to the public. Shuttles will be provided for ticketed attendees.

Over the past few years, due in part to the rising national trend of SantaCon, the beach setting, and social media accounts spreading news of the unsanctioned events, SantaCon has attracted large crowds of non-Fairfield University students from across the region. In response to this, working with the Town of Fairfield, the University is offering University-sponsored SantaCon for the first time, modeled after the success of Clam Jam, an event held each April for seniors at Penfield Beach.

Approval to host the event at Jennings Beach has been granted by the Town of Fairfield Parks & Recreation Commission, along with an approved noise variance. As has been done consistently over past years, the University will cover costs associated with student related events.

“Last year, data indicated that more than 80% of the crowd at the unsanctioned SantaCon gathering was not affiliated with Fairfield University, and the event resulted in neighborhood disruptions, safety concerns, damage to student housing, and significant strain on Town, Police, and University resources,” said Jenn Anderson, vice president of marketing and communications. “While we recognize that the University cannot prevent this national trend, the Town, Police and the University believe that by offering a private, ticketed event for our students, we can provide a managed, University-funded alternative that is intended to support both our students’ experience and the residents’ quality of life. This event will be limited exclusively to students and their registered guests; all others will not be permitted to attend.”

Event details are being shared exclusively through official University communication channels including the University’s verified TikTok account.

The Town of Fairfield, and the Fairfield Police Department strongly encourage anyone without a ticket to SantaCon to avoid travel to the Fairfield beach area.

“SantaCon is a private, ticketed event. It is not open to the general public. The Fairfield Police Department supported by multiple law enforcement agencies and the State's Attorney’s Office will maintain a large, visible presence throughout the beach area and downtown to ensure the safety and security of the community,” said Police Chief Michael Paris. “I want to thank Fairfield University for holding a sanctioned event for their students which has proven successful with Clam Jam. As a reminder, any violations of law or Town ordinances, including alcohol-related offenses, disorderly conduct, trespassing, or public disturbances will be met with immediate enforcement.”