“Festivus,” popularized by a 1997 Seinfeld episode, was created as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. Its origins date back to the mid-1960s, and this year, a version is coming to Jenkintown as the Festivus Cocktail Crawl.

“We’re looking for a fun, interactive adult experience for the holidays,” the event’s lead organizer, Melissa Hager, owner of the Keep Easy Meadery in Jenkintown, said. “We want neighbors to meet each other and generate some new excitement around town. I think this is the first time the town has done something like this, at least in the last 15 years.”

“December 23 is the traditional day that Festivus is celebrated, and it falls on a Saturday this year, which is nice,” she said.

The event will run from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and feature its own Festivus pole, a photo hunt, an “Anti-social Santa”, elves, feats of strength (sans physical contact), medals, raffles, the airing of grievances, greeters, promoters, judges, cheerleaders, MCs, and various proceeds going to local charities.

“Each bar will have its own feat of strength,” Hager said. “One will be bare-handed apple splitting.”

Hager has spent the last couple of weeks gauging enthusiasm and generating participation. At the time of this writing, sponsorships include established Jenkintown watering holes like the Drake Tavern, King’s Corner, and Human Robot. Keep Easy is in the mix as well.

Hager is working on a few more stops and commitments from other establishments, and notes that all proceeds from the “Anti-social Santa” photoshoots will go straight to the Jenkintown Food Cupboard. Photos will run $10 per person and will be available for pre-order on October 1.

The spirit of the all-day celebration is adult-centric, though kids are permitted. Hager notes that kids are permitted for photos with the “Anti-social Santa” if he is stationed in Town Square. Kids are not permitted to attend the Crawl.

“We want people to come and enjoy what our town has to offer and our subcultures,” she said.

The event offers its own apparel, which will soon be available for purchase here.

The event’s organizers are currently seeking volunteers, each of whom get a free t-shirt for helping out before, after, and/or during the event. Opportunities include:

Raffle Basket Donation Solicitors (Oct/Nov/Dec)
Raffle Basket Attendant & MC (Day of)
Santas Elves (Day of)
Feats of Strength Judges (Day of)
Feats of Strength Mc’s (Day of)
Photographers (Day of)
General Organizers (Dec)
Door Greeters (Day of)
Decorators (Day of)
Social Media Promoters/Posters (Oct/Nov/Dec)
Cheerleaders for contest (Day of)

For news and updates for the Festivus Cocktail Crawl, you can visit the event’s Facebook page (another exists here).

For a Seinfeld synopsis, you can watch below:

We’ll be in touch with more details as they become available. Stay tuned.

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