For more than 100 years the "Running of the Bulls” has been a part of the culture of Pamplona, Spain and this weekend our local version of this popular tourist event will be re-enacted here, with our local Grand Rapids Roller Derby (formerly known as the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls) standing in for the bulls again.
And unlike this year's Pamplona event that witnessed more than 16 people being sent to the hospital, the most violence I have witnessed ranges from the slight welt from a plastic inflatable bat burn on a neck to the losing of my pants in year one.
This bar crawl disguised as a fundraiser for our local sports team is a wonderful way to introduce out of town guests visiting the city to a whirlwind tour of our local downtown bars and pubs.
You start by registering at Hopcat at 10 a.m. where you will be presented (with each $20 paid admission) with a commemorative (and designated) "Runner" T-Shirt so that the girls will not be randomly beating sidewalk gawkers as they race from bar to bar immediately after the Blessing of the Bulls service at 11 a.m.
The event wraps up all the fun at Grand Rapids Brewing Company, our region's first organic craft brewery.
A total of 8 bars are participating this year with the below bars offering the following specials:
Hopcat = $1 Off Hop Cat House Brews
Tin Can = $2 El Toro tequila lime shots & $1 PBR
Pyramid Scheme = $3 Shorts drafts, $4 Vander Mill cider can/draft & free high fives.
Stella's $1.75 PBR draft, $1.50 RR, $1.25 Blatz cans, $8 sangria pitchers, $2 wells & 1/2 off chronic fries
Peppenio's = $2.75 pint/ $3.75 tall domestic drafts, $3 wells and $3 house wines.
McFadden's = $2 Domestic Drafts, $4 Premium Drafts
Grand Rapids Brewing Company = $1 Off GRBC Tier 1 & 2 beers.
J. Gardella's = $2 Domestics, $2 Wells (no Redbull) $2 Fireballs, $3 Craft Pints, $5 Burger special.
Admission: $20.
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