Orlando Sentinel

Bar Crawl Nation

- Jtutten@orlandosen­tinel.com

Start the season early with tonight’s crawl that offers participan­ts a challenge of exploratio­n.

“You’re on a mission to visit every bar before the end of the night,” said Peter Altholz of Bar Crawl Nation. “It’s kind of like this quest of nightlife conquest.”

This “quest” invites crawlers to visit each of the 18 participat­ing bars — including Undergroun­d Public House, Tier Nightclub and Saddle Up — to earn a Halloween T-shirt. But first patrons must register at Wall Street Plaza (Wall Street and Orange Avenue) by 8 p.m. They then will receive a scorecard listing bars and drink specials, plus a beer stein that Altholz calls the organizati­on’s “calling card.”

Guests also can have their pictures taken to enter a costume contest that will award $2,500 in gift cards and other prizes. The top “single, couple and group” photos from the night will be turned into an online contest on Bar Crawl Nation’s Facebook page, where winners will be determined based on the number of “likes.”

It’s up to the crawlers to visit all the participat­ing bars in whatever order they like, spending as much time as they want at each location. Scorecards for dedicated bargoers could look like Swiss cheese by the end of the night.

Altholz started Bar Crawl Nation this year after hosting similar events in New York during the last seven years. four free drinks (Coors Lights, call vodkas or Jager shots) at participat­ing locations. Guests also will be able to buy $2 Coors Lights, $3 call vodkas and $3 Jager shots all night.

Five years ago about 500 people showed up for Orlando Pub Crawl’s first Halloween event, said organizer Dave Jordan, co-owner of the group. “This year could be upwards of around 2,000,” he said.

The night will end at the Wall Street Plazaween Party, which will include live music by alternativ­e rock band Who Rescued Who and a costume contest that will award free drinks for a year to the winner.

 ?? ORLANDO PUB CRAWL ?? Costumed crawlers celebrate during last year’s Halloween Pub Crawl in downtown Orlando.
ORLANDO PUB CRAWL Costumed crawlers celebrate during last year’s Halloween Pub Crawl in downtown Orlando.

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