12/06/12 — DGDC plans Christmas downtown bar event

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DGDC plans Christmas downtown bar event

By Ty Johnson
Published in News on December 6, 2012 1:46 PM

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. is aiming to lure barhoppers downtown with the spirits of the season Friday evening, but is also implementing new ideas to keep those who attend the holiday bar crawl safe.

The Santa Stumble, a bar crawl that will carry attendees to all of downtown's watering holes, will feature a designated driver card, which entitles the holder to a free soda at each participating business in the crawl.

The card can be printed out from the DGDC website or Facebook page.

DGDC Promotions Coordinator Meg Gernaat said the implementation of the perk card came out of a meeting of the DGDC board of directors.

She said it was important to the board that the organization take the lead in inspiring responsible habits when consuming alcohol, so the perk card was a good fit.

"It's our way to reward those who are being responsible and making sure their friends and family get home safely," she said.

There will also be extended cab service available for those without designated drivers, which Mrs. Gernaat said means there's no excuse for those taking part in the festivities not to get home safely.

Participants are invited to don holiday apparel -- holiday sweaters, Santa hats -- for free cover charges at downtown businesses.

The Stumble begins at 7 p.m. at D's Sports Bar and continues to The Laughing Owl, Lotus 1899 Bistro and Lounge, Torero's and ends at The Flying Shamrock.

This week, DGDC also announced The Cain Gallery as the winner of its 2012 holiday storefront competition. Entrants were judged on originality, creativity, theme and overall enthusiasm in promoting the winter holiday season downtown.