Santa convention invades San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KTVU) - Jolly old St. Nick multiplied by the hundreds in San Francisco’s Union Square on Saturday for the 21st annual SantaCon.

Participants were encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the San Francisco Fire Department’s Toy Program.

A person dressed as Darth Vader donned a Santa suit and said he takes about 400 photographs with the crowd each year.

“It’s the one time that we’re not on the dark side,” he said.

The most popular part for some was doing the bar crawl where those dressed up as Santa indulged in adult beverages.

Those who participated said the event is about giving back and spreading holiday cheer.