To raise spirits this holiday season, the Gimli Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first-ever pub crawl that promises a night of merriment, social connection and a chance to win a substantial pot of money that could help someone with their holiday-season expenses.
The Gimli Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first-ever pub crawl to five watering holes, including the Ship & Plough Tavern in Gimli on Dec. 6. Pictured is the owner Scott Carman
Set for the evening of Dec. 6, the chamber’s pub crawl will include a personal tour guide and be making five pit stops at local bevvy businesses.
First up is the Pier Lounge in the Gimli Lakeview Resort followed by Interlake Brewing, the Gimli Hotel (the Oldie), the Ship & Plough Tavern, and the Viking Hotel.
The pub crawl is an ideal way for friends to enjoy a safe night out together, for people to meet others in the community or for local employers to treat their employees to a celebratory evening out.
Chamber president Samantha Hampton said the evening will include pre-event meal discounts, drink specials and gift-card giveaways throughout the night.
Apart from the mandate to stir up business for local entrepreneurs, the chamber wants to build new connections that will last beyond the holiday season.
“A huge part of the Chamber’s job is shining a spotlight on the businesses that make this community thrive,” said Hampton. “This pub crawl does exactly that: it drives traffic into local establishments, builds new connections, creates return customers and shows visitors what our town has to offer long after the holidays are over.”
Local residents and visitors are all welcome to crawl with the chamber, she said. It’s already registered people from as far as Winnipeg.
The event is the chamber’s way of giving back to the food and beverage establishments in town.
“Our food and beverage industry has poured so much into this town, and this event is our way of pouring back into them,” said Hampton, who will be acting as hostess for the four-hour journey. “Each stop is offering some kind of special or giveaway, and several restaurants have stepped up to provide discounts for anyone who wants to enjoy a meal before the crawl. It keeps dollars local and showcases just how vibrant Gimli’s nightlife really is.”
The event is not a fundraiser for the chamber. Instead, the chamber wants to provide an opportunity for people to pamper themselves or friends or loved ones through a chance to win cash and prizes and offer them a chance to connect.
“Bringing people together in unexpected ways is where real connection happens. This pub crawl blends locals, visitors and the business community in a setting that’s relaxed, social and fun,” said Hampton. “You end up having conversations you’d never have inside a formal networking event, and that strengthens our community in ways that matter.”
Each pit stop will last about 45 minutes, plus travelling time between the five venues. As the group makes its way between pubs, Hampton will have a portable music player and may ask someone to perform part of a song or answer a trivia question that could earn them an instant prize.
There’s over $1,000 in cash and prizes to be won. That includes a chance to win a sizable chunk of money at the last pub.
Tickets for the pub crawl are going fast and Hampton said if they’re over capacity at some of the smaller pub venues, she and her assistants will break a group into two and send some out ahead of the main group.
People taking part in the pub crawl can book a safe ride home – including getting their vehicle home – using the Gimli Operation Red Nose program or they can book a room at a hotel in Gimli.
To register for the pub crawl, email: gimlichamber@gmail.com for tickets ($15 each).
The chamber’s pub crawl starts at 7 p.m. and wraps up at 11 p.m.
People are welcome to bring a Tin for the Bin (a non-perishable food item for Evergreen Basic Needs’ food bank) to the first pit stop at the Pier in the Lakeview Resort. The largest food donation wins a prize.
