Billed as a “wild night to celebrate Thanksgiving the proper way,” the Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl in Huntington on Wednesday, Nov. 27, offers free entry and drink specials for participants.
Whether you call it Blackout Wednesday or Drinksgiving, the night before Thanksgiving is a traditional time to gather with friends, and the Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl provides just that opportunity.
The crawl begins with check-in at The Rust & Gold, 70 Gerard St., between 5 and 7 p.m. After check-in, participants receive a wristband and a digital map to explore local bars until 11 p.m. The event includes free entry to participating bars, an after-party, food specials, and photos and videos of highlights.
With the event’s growing popularity, Frank Antonetti, owner and beverage director of The Rust & Gold, said up to 10 bars, all within a half-mile of each other, are now involved.
“We do basically a Halloween bar crawl and then a Thanksgiving bar crawl. They both had great success. Last year for the first time, we also tried an ugly sweater bar crawl around Christmas. That was really fun,” he said.
He explained that pub crawls help boost local business. “They’re just different ways to get people to kind of share the love around town," he said. "We have so many great bars in this community, and it’s a way for people to stay safe instead of having to drive from bar to bar.”
Tickets are $24, a bargain compared to the cost of entry at each bar, Antonetti said. “You have the ability to hit a bunch of different spots and on top of that you’re not breaking the bank.”
The crawl is walkable, reducing roadway exposure, but participants still need a designated driver or ride-share option. Event organizers stress that the crawl is not a race, and participants are responsible for their safety.
Many bars will offer special drinks, with The Rust & Gold keeping its concoction a surprise. Other bars may offer free shots or happy-hour pricing, depending on what each establishment chooses. Some bars, like The Rust & Gold, will also feature a DJ for live music.
The crawl is organized in partnership with PubCrawls.com, which coordinates similar events nationwide.