Friday night is Krampusnacht and H Street will come alive with avatars of Santa's less cuddly helper, Krampus. On the evening of 5 December (eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas), a beast-like creature roams the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. According to Alpine lore, St. Nicholas is accompanied by several helpful attendants, one of which is the horned satyr known as Krampus. Whereas St. Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair for punishment!
This is H Street's 3rd Annual DC Krampuslauf (the procession of the Krampusse). It's a different sort of holiday celebration (much more fun than that ugly sweater party), and it raises funds for a very good cause.
The evening starts at Gallery O on H (1354 H Street) with a family friendly reception featuring children activities, Santa Claus, photos with Krampus and Santa and live performances by Dance Afire (actual fire show) and the Foggy Bottom Morris Men (dance show). Following the reception, St. Nicholas leads the ‘Krampuslauf’ down H Street. Participants then will reconvene at Gallery O on H for an after party.
All efforts from the event will go to Santa's Cause DC, which buys holiday and birthday gifts and school supplies for DC foster kids. There's no cover for this event, but a $10 suggested donation or unwrapped Christmas gift is requested. Both the opening reception and the procession are open to all ages. The post-party at Gallery O on H (1354 H Street) is 21+. Costumes (or any reasonable attempt) is highly encouraged, but only required if you want to participate in the parade.
Evening Schedule:
6pm - Santa's Cause D.C. Benefit Reception
Santa Claus, children activities and live entertainment.
Location Gallery O on H (1354 H Street).
Suggested donations of $10 or unwrapped Christmas gift requested.
ASL interpretation provided from stage
7pm - Krampuslauf Walk H Street
Start: 1354 H Street (Gallery O on H)
West on H Street to 11th & H
East on H Street to 13th & H
ASL interpretation provided during walk
9-11:30pm - After party with dj Gallery O on H 21+
Suggested donations of $10 or unwrapped Christmas gift gets you in.
This fun event (which this blog proudly supports) has many sponsors along the H Street Corridor (Gallery O on H, Biergarten Haus, Little Miss Whiskey's, Cusbah, Dangerously Delicious Pies, Queen Vic, Palace Productions, Argonaut, Cirque du Rouge, Rock & Roll Hotel, Crunkcakes, and the Frozen Tropics blog).Santa's Cause DC: A special project for Family Matters of Greater Washington - striving to enhance the lives of foster children throughout the DC area.
15 comments:
Yet another bar crawl.
4:26,
This one is definitely not a bar crawl. They don't go into any of the businesses except Gallery O on H. It's mostly a parade (one that's pretty fun to watch).
LOL. Who in their right mind is going to take their kids to watch a scary monster parade on a school night?
a horrible parent with brilliant, unafraid kids. :)
poo poo - alas, that's me. Kid loved it last year, I'm sure he'll have fun this year.
8:53,
Your kids go to school on Saturday? Damn!
Seriously though, it's really fun & all the kids I saw last year seemed to really enjoy it. There was also an angel handing out candy last year.
Can I bring my kids to this bar crawl?
Who is "palace productions"?
How does one become a sponsor?
Thanks!
5:50,
A local production and talent booking agency that sprang up after the closing of Red Palace. They do stuff around town, including at Rock & Roll Hotel.
http://www.palaceproductionsdc.com
In my case I donated a couple of things to use as raffle prizes.
What's the deal with the goofy-looking hipsters at 0:24 with sticks?
Curmudgeon,
I believe those are the Foggy Bottom Morris Men. They will be there again this year.
Inked: so they're doing Morris dance? But isn't that from England, and Krampus from Austria/Bavaria/etc.?
Curmudgeon,
It sounds like maybe it has Bavarian links. But maybe just think of it as a fun performance (not specifically one in the Krampus tradition).
Love this! The town I grew up in, in NJ, used to do Krampusnacht, Bastille Day, and Guy Fawkes celebrations. I didn't realize until I was in college that this was an unusual thing. The quirkier, the better!
Bastille Day, and Guy Fawkes, that would be awesome.
Now if we could build a straw goat at the Pentacle Intersection that would be awesome for new years.
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