Atlanta Santa Speedo Run

Saturday, December 12, 2015

If you were in Virginia Highlands two Saturdays ago you may have seen Santa. Actually you may have seen more of Santa than you have ever wanted. The seventh annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run had around 100 people don their merriest attire (speedos) as they headed down North Highland Ave. to Atlanta Fire Station 19 and back to Manuel’s Tavern all to raise money for a good cause. This year’s money, over $42,000, was given to BlazeSports America, a non-profit that changes the lives of children and youth, adults and veterans with physical disabilities through adaptive sport and recreation.

Personally I have been inundated with Christmas, Chanukah and holiday events. Tree lightings, menorah lightings, parades, pictures with Santa, holiday light displays, ice skating, holiday pop up shops, festivals and so much more that it was a nice, and entertaining, change of pace to photograph the speedo run. Everyone was happy and excited, maybe too excited, to be scantily clad and running through the streets. This photo I think captures the merriment and spirit of such a great event!

Kit McCluskey (left) helps decorate Maggie Frederick’s wheelchair before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Felipe Rodrigues (right) gets help fluffing his fro from Kit McCluskey and Cynthia Frisina before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Robert Smith (left) helps put the finishing makeup touches onto Joey Riske’s Pigpen costume before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Andy Markowski-McNeil (left), his husband Kurt and Jeffrey Wolff string jingle bells together before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Woodstock and Charlie Brown, Brad Lewis (left) and Alan Phelps have a drink at the bar before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Santa, Robert Cliatt (center) is introduced by his reindeer Sarah Cloud (left), Jennifer Harvey, Sarah McLean and Kellie Reese before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Devon McCormack (left) and Chris Campbell walk away from the registration table with their race bags before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Santa, Scott Bartruff orders drinks from the bar before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Erik Metzger (right) turns to talk to Sarah Visel before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Jennifer Harvey (left) and Sarah Cloud link arms as they drink a beer before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Sean Dixon-Parker (left) and Tina Russo get their Santa and Mrs. Claus faces on before the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Santa, Sean Dixon-Parker (right) leads people outside for the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Sean Dixon-Parker (center) and Tina Russo (right) lead the start of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as a red Starbuck’s coffee cup, Chris Campbell (left) runs down North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Snoopy, Miguel Miranda (center) runs down North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Maggie Frederick (center) participates in the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as reindeer, Kellie Reese (center) turns to Sarah Cloud during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Santa, Scott Bartruff runs up North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Santa, Sean Dixon-Parker (left) and Tina Russo run up North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Lowell Pratt (left), Chad Murray and Scott Win run up North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Dressed as Woodstock from The Peanuts, Brad Lewis (right) runs up North Highland Ave. during the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Erik Metzger (center) is greeted by onlookers as he returns to Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta at the end of the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Michael Shane Breazeale (center) and Ahmad Sabha order drinks at the bar after the annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run at Manuel’s Tavern on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

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