“It’s not an event…it’s a rite of passage.”
Or so says the slogan on the homepage of this year’s Gator Stompin’ website. For over 30 years, this event has attracted thousands upon thousands of young people to try to stomp their way from Midtown to Downtown, and this Thursday, it’s going down again. Participants will attempt to make their way through over 85 establishments, making for one incredible pub crawl.
Here’s how it works: when you purchase your tickets, you pick up a t-shirt and ten tokens. The t-shirt acts as your cover in all the places participating in Gator Stompin’, whether it’s restaurants, bars, clubs, whatever; the tokens are like your money. Each place usually has specials that cost one or two tokens. You pay tokens, and you get whatever it is that they’re selling. Once you’re out of tokens, cash works too.
Walking all the way from Midtown to Downtown or Downtown to Midtown is a huge endeavor, especially when you have a few drinks in you when you begin the trek. Here are some tips from a seasoned pro in order to maximize your fun while Gator Stompin’ this year.
Via: explore352.wordpress.com
Have a plan
It may be uncool and unadventurous, but trust me, you and your friends need to determine what places you want to hit. Do you want to go to just clubs? Just bars? Only Downtown? Only Midtown? In addition, not every place has both beer and liquor specials, so if you’re in the mood for a rum and coke but not a PBR, you’ll need to be sure to find the places that is serving liquor specials. When you pick up your tokens they will give you a list of participating places, or you can just Google it from your phone the night of to make it seem like you’re being spontaneous.
Experiment
It’s easy to just hit up Rowdy or Balls in Midtown and stay there for the majority of your Gator Stompin’ time, but one of the benefits of such a massive pub crawl is to experience places and people you’ve never experienced before. Who knows? You may even find a new favorite place in your travels. The point is, do the unfamiliar because a pub crawl this large is an experience in and of itself and you should make the most out of it.
Via: jaxbrewbitch.blogspot.com
Wear comfortable shoes
One of the nice things about Gator Stompin’ is that it’s one of the only times it’s socially acceptable to wear a t-shirt while drinking, so don’t mess that up by throwing on your highest pair of heels. You’re going to be walking a few miles while you do this, and the carrying-your-shoes-in-your-hands-while-walking-barefoot look is not one you want to be sporting.
Don’t spend all your tokens in one place
Some of the drink specials you will find will be amazing, but don’t forget that there are food places too. Trust me, once it gets to be about 1:30 am, you’ll wish that you had saved your last token for a Flaco’s burrito.
Via: someecards.com
Drink and Be Merry!
This is an experience that everyone at the University of Florida should have at least once. To be a part of a potentially record-breaking pub crawl is an incredible thing. You may not be able to put it on a résumé, but after the hard work you put in this year, you deserve a break. Enjoy it!
Featured photo courtesy of: The Black Sheep
