Downtown Muncie has many things to celebrate. The downtown nightlife has expanded considerably in the last few years. The school year is almost over and summer is about to begin. Downtown Development decided this weekend was the perfect time to introduce the first-ever Downtown Pub Crawl for Millions.
On Saturday night, nine bars downtown will host the crawl — Doc's Music Hall, Savage's Ale House, The Heorot, The Silo, Backstage Bar, Two Johnny's, Mark III Tap Room, The Fickle Peach and White River Landing.
Mike Martin, owner of Doc's, said this event will be a milestone for the growing downtown nightlife.
"I think it's 10 years of work and investing that's paying off," he said. "We've worked and believed there is a horizon to reach."
Participants in the pub crawl can receive an entry form at any bar starting at 9 p.m. Next, they will take their forms to each bar to get stamped. After all nine bars are visited, forms can be dropped in the "Letters to Dave" mailbox in Dave's Alley on Walnut Street. On Monday morning, representatives from Downtown Development will draw out six random forms for prizes. The two first prize winners will receive an advertised one million rupees — the official currency of India. This translates to $80 downtown gift certificates, which can be used at any downtown business. The two second prize winners will receive $40 certificates, and the two third prize winners get $20 certificates.
Cheryl Crowder, director of Downtown Development, said the event will be a great way for Ball State University students, aged 21 years and older, to end the school year.
"Since it's the end of the semester, we wanted to invite students back to downtown one last time," she said. "It's sort of like one last hurrah before people leave for the summer."
Chris Piche, co-owner of The Fickle Peach, said students should take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy downtown Muncie before Finals Week begins on Monday.
"It's a good way to blow off a little steam for students, and they deserve it," he said. "They've worked hard all semester."
Piche said he also thinks the event will appeal to people because those involved in the pub crawl do not have to buy a drink at every bar in order to get their form stamped. He said people can have fun without getting "obliterated."
Crowder said another big reason for having a pub crawl is to spread the word about the bars in downtown Muncie. In the last few years, the nightlife downtown has seen a "steady increase" in bars and attendance. With new bars such as Savage's Ale House and The Silo, she said the pub crawl will offer people exposure to their social opportunities, she said.
"We've been open for four weeks, and people are still starting to hear about us," Eric Butler, manager of The Silo, said, "so this is great for them to see us open."
Piche said he is expecting a good turnout for the pub crawl. He said The Fickle Peach will still be checking I.D.'s at the door, so no one underaged can sneak in with the crowd. Piche said he just hopes the event will open up Muncie residents' eyes to everything downtown Muncie has to offer.
"It exposes people to a lot of different places and different atmospheres," he said. "They may not like one place, but they can find one they like."
Sharon Hernandez contributed to this story
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