It’s a Christmas celebration with an edge.
“This is your punk rock Christmas,” said John LaFleur, head volunteer.
Think less friendly Frosty the Snowman and more fearful horned creature.
Welcome to Krampus Krawl 2022, a downtown Elgin pub crawl celebrating European folklore figure Krampus, who scares children on Santa’s naughty list.
“He’s known sometimes as the devil of Christmas or St. Nicholas’s sidekick,” LaFleur said.
Indeed some depictions of the horned, goat-like anthropomorphic figure can look like something from the underworld. But the Dec. 10 pub crawl, organized by volunteer-run Krampuslauf-Elgin, is meant to be a good time for grownups.
“It a very loosely organized effort to bring the adults out and sort of give the adults a break around the holidays and have some fun with it,” LaFleur said.
Attendees often dress as Krampus or in other holiday garb. Costumes are not required though.
“A lot of people who are really over the top on Halloween are really into this,” LaFleur said. “You don’t have to dress up as a Krampus on this crawl. We just want you to have fun. Just wear whatever over the top type of Christmas wear you’d like to wear. Some people do it a little goth; some people do it naughty Santa. It really just depends what you’re into.”
The Krawl kicks off at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at Elgin Public House, 219 Chicago St. From there participants will travel at 7 p.m. to Vern’s Tavern, 76 S. Grove Ave.; at 8 p.m. the Krawl will go to Bea Unique Latin Kitchen, 74 S. Grove Ave. and Kubo Sushi and Sake Lounge, 70 S. Grove Ave. The last stop on the Krawl is Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St.
Participants can meet up with the Krawl at any point/location in the evening. Holiday-themed drink specials will be offered at each venue, LaFleur said.
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While the final stop is Martini Room, the celebration doesn’t end. Participants can view the Krampus-themed art exhibit currently on display there. Elgin artist Heather Dorsch designed this year’s event poster, depicting a female Krampus.
“If you go into the Martini Room, a bunch of artists have done paintings of their interpretation of Krampus,” LaFleur said. “Most of them are for sale.”
During the Krawl a signature piece by Elgin artist Ken Simonsen will be presented.
“Ken’s going to be unveiling a special Krampus piece that evening,” LaFleur said. “He does some really bigger airbrushed stuff that’s just amazing.”
And from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Dec. 10, German folk/pop music band Alpine Thunder will perform.
Inspired by other Krampus events around the country, the first Krampus Krawl in Elgin was held in 2015. Organized by LaFleur and Dave Metzger of Oddball Art Labs, the event featured an art show and had participants dressed as Krampus or in other holiday costumes as they traveled through downtown.
And a new local tradition was born.
With the exception of the past two years, the event has been held every year since 2015 as close as possible to Krampus night. It takes place rain, shine or snow.
“Krampus night is Dec. 5 and St. Nicholas night is Dec. 6. So we try to do it right around those. Either before or after,” LaFleur said. “There’s a bunch of them around the country. We actually have people who come down from Milwaukee to ours.”
Because Krampus is responsible for dealing with the kids who misbehaved during the year, he or she carries a switch in addition to a sack and bells to scare the children. For those who want to dress up as Krampus, Krampuslauf-Elgin will have such accessories on hand.
The event gives people an excuse to throw on their festive holiday wear, visit downtown businesses and have a few drinks, he said.
“We’re excited to bring it back and people are excited to have something else to do in December that’s a little nontraditional and sort of off the beaten path,” LaFleur said.
Krampus Krawl 2022
When: 6 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: meet at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin
Tickets: Free
Information: facebook.com/KrampuslaufElginIL/
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.