Rich & Bennett’s 23rd Annual Bar Crawl Takes Over the City Once Again
Charlotte’s streets are about to turn green, and it’s not because of spring. The Rich & Bennett’s St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl—an event that started in 2001 with just a handful of drinkers—returns for its 23rd year on Saturday, March 15, 2025, bringing thousands of revelers, dozens of bars, and a citywide excuse to start drinking before noon.
The Details: How Much, Where, and Why It Matters
Tickets? Not exactly. Instead of a wristband, attendees buy the official event T-shirt, which acts as their golden ticket into all participating bars. Prices start at $20 at prepay events, increasing to $30 on the day of. Those who like their festivities pre-planned can secure theirs online (buy here).
Check-in runs 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Pub Crawl Party Lot Uptown. Expect DJs, food trucks, and a limited supply of free swag before the real madness begins.
For an extra flex, attendees can swap out the traditional T-shirt for the brand-new, limited edition basketball jersey—a nod to Charlotte’s hoops history and the ACC Tournament happening the same weekend. This $50 alternative also grants full bar access and, frankly, looks cooler.
What’s Included (Besides Regret the Next Morning)
- The official event T-shirt (or jersey)
- An event koozie—because warm beer is a crime
- Drink specials across all participating bars
- Entry into the raffle (prizes include Charlotte FC and Knights tickets)
- A pub crawl discount card valid through March 31
- A reason to text your ex at 2 AM (not included, but likely)
Who’s Coming? (Besides Everyone You Know and People You Don’t Want to See)
Every year, the crawl draws thousands of participants from all over the country. Attendees have already RSVP’d from cities like Washington, DC, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Staten Island, along with practically every town in North Carolina.
Bars, Booze, and Broken Resolutions
A full list of participating venues is available here, but expect the usual suspects of Charlotte’s nightlife scene to be on board. Drink specials include:
🍺 Beer – Bud Light Shamrock Bottles
🍏 Seltzer – Bud Light Seltzer
🥃 Irish Whiskey – Slane & Proper 12 Irish Apple
🔋 Energy Drink – Red Bull (select venues)
And no, you cannot leave a bar with an open container. North Carolina’s laws are still stricter than your Irish Catholic grandmother.
Prepay Events: Where Smart People Get Their Shirts Early
For those who like to plan ahead (or just avoid lines), prepay events let attendees grab their shirts in advance. These run from February 26 to March 14 at locations like TILT, Clutch, The Daily, Brickyard, and Slate. Full schedule here.
Hotels for When You Inevitably Need One
Staying the night? Several Uptown hotels are offering crawl weekend rates:
🏨 237 South Tryon Street – $239/night (Book now)
🏨 404 South Mint Street – $219/night (Book now)
🏨 508 North College Street – $189/night (Book now)
A Toast to the Late, Great Jeff Bennett
The pub crawl continues in honor of Jeff Bennett, co-founder of Rich & Bennett, who passed away in 2020. His legacy? Bringing thousands together every March for two decades. Raise a glass in his name—he’d want you to.
Who’s Behind This Madness?
This event coverage is brought to you by Glory Days Apparel, Charlotte’s go-to for nostalgia-driven T-shirts, hats, and hoodies. Founded by JD Harris in 2016, Glory Days Apparel specializes in wearable conversation pieces—the kind of gear that makes strangers in a bar go, “Hey, cool shirt.”
Find them at 2202 Hawkins Street or online:
🌎 Website
📸 Instagram
📞 Phone: (980) 292-3864
📧 Email: info@glorydaysapparel.com
Final Words: Don’t Be the Amateur Who Peaks Too Early
A few last reminders for first-timers:
1️⃣ Pace yourself. The crawl is a marathon, not a sprint.
2️⃣ Make friends. Charlotte is friendly—at least until the Irish whiskey kicks in.
3️⃣ Wear the T-shirt. Or the jersey. No exceptions.
4️⃣ Do not drive. There are Ubers, Lyfts, pedicabs, and your cousin who still owes you a favor.
Charlotte’s biggest, rowdiest, most absurd St. Patrick’s Day tradition is back. See you in the streets. 🍀
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About the Author
Jack Beckett, senior writer for the Charlotte Mercury, runs on black coffee and poor decisions. When not covering the Queen City’s latest chaos, he can be found debating the merits of gas station breakfast sandwiches.
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