About 1,100 people wearing Santa costumes raced through St. Charles, Mo., for the town's first ever Santa's North Pole Dash and Children's Snowman Shuffle.

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Scott Tate, president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, said about 1,100 people showed up for the event Saturday wearing Santa hats, decorated T-shirts, and fake beards, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

"The main purpose for coming out today was to be festive and have a good time," said race participant John Spencer, 23.

Wendy Rackovan, the chamber's vice president of marketing and communications, said event organizers drew inspiration from similar runs in Las Vegas, Flint, Mich., and the Chicago area.

"Adults like to do things where they can dress up," Rackovan said.

In Philadelphia Saturday, the annual "Running of the Santas" began at 10 a.m. with hundreds of Santas bar crawling in the Old CIty neighborhood, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

At 4 p.m., the pack of Santas, signaled by fireworks, began to run 3 blocks to a pier to see live performances by 10 bands.

Proceeds from the event, which included a "Hottest Santa Contest," go to local charities.

"It's a social event," said a Santa who identified himself only as "Paul," who added that this year was his first.