In this episode of “I Am Lakeland,” host Don Burns is joined by Bethany Fife to discuss one of the city’s most festive and charitable annual traditions: the Downtown Lakeland SantaCon. Since taking over the event in 2020, Bethany and her team have evolved this Santa-themed pub crawl into a massive community gathering that brings holiday cheer to the streets of Lakeland while supporting a great cause.
The event isn’t just about the costumes and the crawl; it’s a mission-driven initiative with 100% of the proceeds benefiting KidsPACK of Lakeland, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding hungry children in the local community. Bethany explains how the event has been redesigned as a self-guided “passport” tour to better support local businesses and provide a smoother experience for participants.
Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a meaningful way to give back during the holidays, Bethany’s enthusiasm for SantaCon highlights why this event has become a cornerstone of the Lakeland Christmas season. 44
