Since Winter has been getting a lot of us down, I decided to organize an event where the activities would be mostly indoors. A scavenger hunt between bars in a fun neighborhood like Fells Point seemed like a good idea, so I started making a list of things that I’d want people to do and find. On Friday night, I headed to Dogwatch Tavern with my camera, a couple dozen photocopies of the list, and two fists full of blue beaded necklaces for morale. People started trickling in, and after we mingled a bit we got down to business.
There were 20 items on the list of activities each team needed to do, photograph, and post on Instagram with a hashtag. There were also a few things that needed to be physically collected, as well as specific drinks that were to be consumed.
Picture Challenges:
A team member kissing a bald man’s head
A team member with a bra over their shirt
Your entire team in a human pyramid
A team member posing with someone with an instrument
A team member with a visible lipstick print on their face
A team member posing with someone in uniform
A team member planking
A team member doing (or providing) a body shot
A chalk outline on the ground in Broadway Square
Your team doing the YMCA (strangers can be used if needed)
Someone with a chain wallet
A chugging contest between (2+) team members
A team member hugging the bouncer at The Rockwell
A team member taking a mirror reflection selfie
A team member sitting on a toilet
A clock displaying 11:11
Graffiti in a bathroom
A team member petting a dog (taken tonight)
A team member cheating at Skeeball
A team member posing with the guy who sells flowers
Collect:
1 coin with the year 1999
1 rectangular (not square) coaster
1 embellished toothpick
1 photobooth strip
1 flyer to a Baltimore event
Drinks:
A blue drink
A martini
A PBR
A drink with an umbrella in it
A Red Bull
A Natty Boh
A shot of Fireball
As I explained the rules to the five teams that formed, I reminded them of the extra points they could get in addition to the challenges. One was whoever presented a picture of the most hipster stranger, and the other was an additional point for every different beer bottle cap that was presented to me at the end of the night. I had a feeling that was going to make or break the competition, and I was right! The scores were very close, but the winning team brought me an entire bag full of bottle caps! They ended up beating the runner-up by 15 whole points.
I didn’t participate in the competition, but I did follow around the team Joe was on. I took pictures and had to bite my tongue when I saw opportunities for his team to score points. It was really fun to watch everyone get silly, to run into other teams on the street, and to consistently refresh my Instagram feed to see new hilarious photos.
One of my favorite parts was as I was handing out things to start this adventure at the beginning of the evening, a group of people playing pool inquired about our festivities. They asked if they could participate, and I was thrilled! I’m always happy to get strangers involved in fun.
We all met at midnight at The Rockwell to dance as I calculated the results and passed out the prizes to each member of the winning team. It was a fun night, and I’m really grateful to everyone who came out! I had asked everyone who came to wear blue so we could be identified as we scattered around the cobblestone streets, and in hindsight I realized how hilarious it would have been if I had shown up in white and gold, as it was the day after that insane Dress Debacle.
Have you ever participated in a bar crawl scavenger hunt? Would you?
What would be on your own Bar Crawl Checklist?
The photos in the collages were not taken by me. They were taken by multiple people participating in the challenge, and I thank them for posting them to Instagram.
This is such a fun idea! I had seen plenty of people do this for bachelorette and bachelor parties, but the idea of it to be just another random night for a bar crawl is genius!
Yeah! I feel like that’s the only time I ever see people do these things but it doesn’t need to be for a “special occasion”!
I am putting one together
Have fun!
I am planning a pub crawl scavenger hunt for a friend’s birthday right now….what kind of prizes did you give? Great ideas! Thanks! 🙂
I made goodie bags. They had $5 Target gift cards, candy, shot glasses, and random toys and things to wear like fake mustaches, etc.
What were your rules? I’m trying to help a friend raise some money to start a business and this sounds like SOOO much fun!
We divided into teams and everyone from the team had to be present at the end to turn in the list/items. Everyone also had to be on time at exactly midnight. I handed out bags for collecting the items, and pictures needed to be taken on a device that I could view at the end of the night. The drinks that were consumed were on the honor system, and anyone on the team could consume them. The additional items (collecting bottle caps) were an extra point a piece at the end and that made a huge difference in the points. I made it clear at the beginning of the night that the items that would be collected/photos to be taken should be as close to what was requested as possible, but I had final say. i.e. if I asked for an orange leaf and you brought me a leaf I decided was red, I had final say/discretion based on what you think is fair. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hello! I am in the process of planning a fun night out with scavenger hunt for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday. I love your post. It has provided me with the motivation and inspiration I needed to create our own hunt 🙂 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome! Glad to help. 🙂
Great ideas! Totally stealing them:)
Go for it!
Hi there! I’m creating a scavenger hunt of my own, I’m wondering what the best platform to use is. What did you give your teams so they could keep track of the rules and what they needed to find? An app? A simple printed out checklist? A book?
Thanks!
I am trying to plan one of these as a charity event but cant figure out how or where people upload photos.
Thanks for a wonderful in addition to enlightening post We truly value all the effort which went into creating.