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Hipster Santa has fled to the ‘burbs.
After not getting his usual gig at Pioneer Place for two Christmases in a row, Washington Square announced Dec. 2 that Hipster Santa will make a limited engagement at the mall. He will welcome visitors on from 4-7 pm on two Thursdays this month, Dec. 5 and 12. (Prebook a visit here.)
“We are excited to welcome Hipster Santa to Washington Square, where we have been hosting Santa for 50 years to the delight of local families who visit,” says Maria Halstead Washington Square’s general manager. “We can’t speak for downtown, but Santa is very popular here at Washington Square.”
It’s quite a change, considering the concept of Hipster Santa was the brainchild of Pioneer Place’s marketing team about a decade ago. Known for his “naughty” and “nice” arm tattoos, man bun and heavy-rimmed glasses, Hipster Santa attracted 90-minute lines of families and kid-less adults in Pioneer Place’s rotunda back in December 2015. His set consisted of a Christmas tree, bike, vintage typewriter and a yarn-bombed beaver statue.
Hipster Santa’s move to Washington Square comes about a week after the Oregonian reported on his two-year Pioneer Place shut out and interviewed disappointed shoppers. But Washington Square management demurred on whether or not Hipster Santa’s appearance at their mall was related to his drop from Pioneer Place, saying only that the late announcement was because “everyone loves a surprise.”
A traditional Santa Claus will also be available for visits at Washington Square through Dec. 24.