CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The organizer of one of Chicago's best known holiday-season social events said it would take a Christmas miracle to bring it back for its 24th year.
Wrigleyville's Twelve Bars of Christmas (TBOX) started in 1996, as a way to generate business for bars when Chicago is cold in the winter.
TBOX organizer and founder Christopher Festa said he knows his event is the exact opposite of social distancing, but he didn't want that to stop the 24-straight years of bar crawls and asked the city for his annual permit.
Eater Chicago reported the city has denied his permit for the annual pub crawl on Clark Street.
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A Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events spokesperson told Eater that it is not just TBOX, though. The city is not issuing any special event permits for any outdoor festivals, athletic events, or “non-essential markets” through the end of the year.
“My event is literally the exact opposite of social distancing,” Festa told Eater Chicago. “It’s known for people making out all over the place, and sometimes we pour cereal into people’s mouths. Obviously those things would be the biggest crime in the world right now.”
Since its start, the event has since grown from 12 bars to around 30.