If you're looking to dress as a sexy Santa or a mischievous elf, no need to leave New Jersey for Brooklyn or Philadelphia. There's at least five SantaCon events happening around the Garden State over the next two weekends. And with some, there's even an underlying effort to spread good cheer while having fun.

Asbury Park, Seaside Heights and Princeton all will see throngs of merry revelers this Saturday (December 9). On Saturday, December 16, the jolly invasion makes its way to Atlantic City and Hoboken.

This will be the sixth year the holiday-themed bar crawl is held in Asbury Park. SantaCon first arrived in Monmouth County in the months after Superstorm Sandy.  Approaching winter 2012, it was a way to help boost local businesses struggling during the off season, while also collecting donations for local relief efforts.

Asbury Park kicks off the day this year with the Santa Run. It's billed as "an army of Santas running (or walking) a 5K race in support of local charity, Lunch Break." As of this week, race registration is near sold-out.

The Seaside Heights SantaCon encourages those taking part to be generous with non-profits. They suggest bringing "At least two non-perishable food items for Santa’s food drive and one unwrapped toy for local charity."

Princeton Santacon also hopes to "spread kindness and pay it forward," with an added awareness this year to becoming an organ and tissue donor.

Hoboken's Santacon has been tweaked over the past few years, to encourage less rowdy behavior. Last year, the city's police chief shared tales of those being naughty with a live tweet of the day-long festivities.

SantaCon brings with it a zero-tolerance approach to aggressive and destructive behavior. Police departments in all affected Jersey communities are asking participants to be responsible and respectful.

And, if you're still determined to trek out of state for SantaCon in New York City this weekend, know that NJ Transit is saying "Bah, Humbug!" to public drunkenness.

There's a ban on ANY drinks from Saturday through early Sunday. There's support for the crackdown, by innocent passengers who've had encounters with messy participants heading to and from the event.

Proud Jersey Girl Erin Vogt’s first reporting gig involved her Fisher Price tape recorder. As a wife and momma of two kiddies, she firmly believes that life’s too short to drink bad coffee. A fan of the beach, Dave Grohl and karma, in no particular order.

Follow her on Twitter and on Facebook as ProudJersey.

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