Chicago Denies Permit for Annual Wrigleyville Christmas Bar Crawl | Eater Chicago

"Started in 1996 to drive winter business for local taverns, this long-running holiday bar crawl grew from 12 stops to about 30 and operates on a flat-fee model (roughly $40) with guides shepherding large groups between bars that offer drink specials. It’s a highly polarizing, party-focused tradition—known for ugly holiday sweaters, heavy drinking, pervasive close contact (people making out), and raucous antics like pouring cereal into participants’ mouths—which makes it inherently incompatible with pandemic safety rules. Organizers applied for their annual permit but the city’s special-events office declined to issue permits for outdoor festivals and similar gatherings through the end of the year; the founder says he won’t circumvent officials and is reluctant to hold the event unless public health conditions and public sentiment become clearly safe. The crawl’s reputation has also included recurring reports of vandalism and at least one serious 2014 assault at a Wrigleyville bar, underscoring long-standing safety concerns." - Naomi Waxman