A red-and-white dress code was strictly enforced on Sunday as 500 Pescara residents took to the streets dressed as Santa Claus for charity.
The Santa event was organized with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, in order to raise money for children in the Horn of Africa. The costumed Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) took over Pescara's main square and marched through downtown accompanied by holiday music and a classic car show.
Tall and short, fat and thin, male and female- the wide assortment of red-suited Santas ran and walked for the common cause.
In its second year, the UNICEF event was focused on lending a helping hand to children in developing countries. In addition to raising funds for people impacted by the famine in Africa, the 2011 charitable gathering also benefited the local chapter of Caritas. Pescara Caritas was specifically included to help local children affected by the recent economic crisis.
