Although Halloween is still almost two weeks away, it’s never too early to start celebrating. In Gilroy, the holiday celebration begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 with the annual Halloween Beer Crawl and Beer Crawl After Party.
Now in its second year, the crawl features local brewers and craft brewers sharing their creations and teaching crawlers about beer.
“As with all of our events in Downtown Gilroy, this is a chance to reconnect with friends and community members,” said Gilroy Downtown Business Association Coordinator Melanie Corona. “It’s also a fantastic way to become reacquainted with all of the businesses downtown that are participating. It’s a great deal, too—the potential to sample more than 30 craft beers for $25.”
On the current list of confirmed breweries are Lagunitas, Gordon Biersch, Sierra Nevada, Strike, Stone, Brewery Twenty Five, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery, Grillin and Chillin, Shipyard Heretic, New Belgium and Firestone Walker.
Corona believes this year’s crawl will prove to be bigger and better than previous years.
“We’ve lengthened the event by an hour and added three additional pour stations from last year,” she said. “Check-in will be held at the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce breezeway and last year it was at Pinnacle Bank.”
A home brew club—Headquarters from San Jose—will serve as a pour station with six beers on tap for tasting. And three new pour stations have signed on in their first time participating in any Downtown Gilroy event—Itty Bitty Beauty Boutique, Closet Rehab at Mango Street Kids and Fiesta Depot. And thanks to the Downtown Gilroy planning committee, the After Party is now a huge component of the crawl, Corona said.
The After Party features a beer and wine garden, two food trucks and performances by JJ Hawg and Entourage from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fifth Street. According to Corona, costumes are encouraged and some special surprises may be in store. “You’ll have to come and find out,” she said. “There’s really something for everyone to do on Oct. 24.”
Tickets are $25, $10 for the After Party, and available at bit.ly/1jlf21. Tickets on the day of the event are $35 and $15.
