Nathaniel Pierce, Staff Writer~
Lynchburg is going to be very green on Saturday, March 17 for the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration.
The Lynchburg St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl is a huge event for Lynchburg. The Pub Crawl will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday and last late into the night. Registration will be downtown at the Water Dog from 2 to 6 p.m. Micah Gaudio, a 1997 graduate of Liberty University, is the founder and organizer of the pub crawl.
This St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl is Lynchburg’s way of celebrating the Irish holiday. It “is a time of festive jubilation, so let your Irish cheer run free! Join hundreds of fellow pub crawlers in celebrating a day full of green revelry at some of downtown Lynchburg’s most popular bars/pub spots, all for a good cause,” according to the event website.
“The Lynchburg St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl is a culmination of downtown Lynchburg enthusiasts and business owners who want to see Lynchburg thrive as a top tourist destination in Virginia,” according to Gaudio.
“This is the first event of its kind in downtown Lynchburg that is open to the public,” Gaudio said. He also noted, “You can safely walk or ride between all of these downtown Lynchburg venues and it’s truly amazing – it rivals any nightlife Roanoke or Charlottesville could offer.” He is excited that this is finally happening in Lynchburg.
“It’s really exciting to see downtown Lynchburg come into its own the last few years as a nightlife attraction and tourist destination,” said Gaudio. “When I started Lynchburg Living in 2001, I saw that potential with many others and glad it’s finally happening.”
Gaudio has also founded Smith Mountain Laker.com Magazine, NRV Magazine, WakeNSkate Board Shop, Prototype Advertising, GO Agency, PUSH Public Marketing, Smith Mountain Lake Academy and The Real LynchVegas.
Those attending the event are recommended to wear green. Those not wearing green “may get pinched by a leprechaun” according to the event’s website. To attend the pub crawl, participants must be 21 years or older.
Tickets for the pub crawl are $15 online; however, there is only 500 tickets available online. The first 500 ticket holders are able to choose between a free two-ounce glass on a necklace or a 14-ounce mug. Patrons with a glass won’t pay a cover charge at each stop they visit. The glass also “gets you food and drink specials at each venue on the tour” as stated by the event’s website. Included in the ticket price is also a free pass on the Brew Ridge Tours Bus from 2 to 9 p.m. and discounts on Uber and Lyft.
There will be a “Sexiest and Best Dressed Leprechaun” contest. The winners will receive cash prizes, and all participants will be able to vote in the contest. Free raffles and event pictures will be available to all participants as well, according to the website. For more information on the the Lynchburg St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lynchburg-st-pattys-day-pub-crawl-tickets-43321306193
