How to Organize a Pub Crawl

While bar hopping takes you and a pal to several bars in one night, a pub crawl is an easy way to visit several bars with a group of people. The more you organize your event, the more fun you will have.

Things You'll Need

• Email to send out save the dates and invites

Instructions

Organize a Pub Crawl

1. Pick a theme that will attract your crawlers. While pub crawls do not need a theme, you can have great fun by planning your event around a holiday, special day or other theme. The theme can be carried through bar selection, outfits or drink specials.

2. Find a day that works for the most people. While weekends will allow more people to attend, the bars will be more crowded. You may also be able to get the pub to give you specials during the week.

3. Call the bars you plan to include on your pub crawl. Let the bar owner know you are coming, and ask if the bar has space limitations or can offer any discounts to your group. You may even be able to have a space reserved.

4. Make an itinerary with the time allotted for each bar. Plan to spend about an hour at each stop on the pub crawl.

5. Decide on a way to keep your group together. A simple way to do this is have everyone wear the same color. You can also get a bit crazier and have participants wear a costume or paint their faces. Just make sure whatever you choose can be spotted across a crowded bar.

6. Send out an invite with the complete schedule. Email invites allow people to make suggestions to the lineup or theme. Require people to RSVP so you can get a good idea of how many people will be attending.

7. Have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong. If rain dampens the crawl, consider renting a party bus or limo. Just make sure everyone chips in ahead of time.

8. Get suggestions from My Bar Crawl (see Resources below). The site is geared towards Iowa, but the tips work for a crawl in any city.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to avoid planning your pub crawl on the same day as a huge event in the area. Sporting events and concerts will fill the bars, streets and parking lots.

• Set up a meeting place outside of the first bar, so you can get your group together before mixing with crowds.

• A pub crawl can literally turn to crawling between bars as the night and drinks go on, so arrange for safe travel both between bars and for people to make it home.

Resources

• My Bar Crawl for organizing tips