Cheers, everyone!
Thursday, May 14, is Bar Crawl, and officials are asking that you enjoy yourselves. Within the legal — and reasonable — limit, of course. That means dumping out your booze before bouncing to the next bar, having proper identification if carded and maybe skipping that next round of shots if you’re just too damn hammered.
The decades-old tradition will feature all-day drink specials at 13 establishments in the West Side and Downtown Binghamton. Between 2,000 to 5,000 revelers are expected to slosh across town with mugs in hand, rosy cheeks and grins on their faces. Even Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan has attended previous Crawls “to make sure everyone’s enjoying themselves and behaving appropriately,” said Andrew Block, director of Community Relations for the city of Binghamton.
The Campus Community Coalition of Binghamton met last week at City Hall to plan the annual bar-hop. Dave Husch, director of Off Campus College, moderated the discussion with the Senior Class Council, Binghamton Police, Community Relations, Department of Public Works and local bar owners and licensees.
“When the coalition got involved it was to try to keep everything more safety-first. This group has been active for eight or nine years, and it just gives everyone the opportunity to be on the same page with everything,” Husch said. “It’s worked. I think students have taken it upon themselves to show they can be responsible.”
The event is one of the last chances for students to have fun with seniors before graduation.
“It’s New Year’s Eve in May,” said Anthony Basti, known as Uncle Tony, of State Street’s Uncle Tony’s.
But that doesn’t mean bar owners or cops will turn the other cheek at bad behavior.
“We’re not going to put up with any baloney,” Basti said. “If they don’t wanna respect me, they’re not gonna be in here.”
Police will monitor the Crawl route, and some off-duty officers have been hired as security inside the bars. Bar owners should keep crowds to the bars’ posted occupancies.
Even though open containers were allowed on State Street during this year’s Parade Day, it doesn’t appear the same will apply for Bar Crawl. Coalition officials said no one yet had asked the city to lift the law, and now it’s probably too late. So bar owners will place barrels at the doorways for revelers to dump their alcohol before leaving. Copies of the open container law are in every Bar Crawl mug sold by the Senior Class Council.
“Making sure folks are of age” and “making sure heavily intoxicated students aren’t served” are also among the priorities, Husch said.
Bar Crawl mugs are on sale today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday from noon to 4 p.m. at the tabling in the New University Union. Proceeds go to the senior class gifts: a flagpole at the campus’ Institute of Child Development and financial donations to the John Arthur Memorial Cafe in the Fine Arts building.
Bearcat Day, an alcohol-free alternative, is set to take place on Bar Crawl day from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. between State and Water streets. With financial support from Off Campus College Council and the Division of Student Affairs, the event will feature comedy acts, a cappella performances, video game competitions, free food and prizes.
— Ashley Tarr contributed reporting to this article.