In its 25th year, the Hooley Pub Crawl draws crowds from Allegany County and beyond to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with food, drink, and entertainment. The event invites visitors to patronize 22 participating establishments in downtown, north, and south Cumberland and explore the region's attractions. The Pub Crawl begins on Saturday, March 16th, at 12:00 pm and continues through 1:00 am the next day.
“This has been a long-standing tradition in Downtown Cumberland,” shares Melinda Kelleher, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Commission, which is coordinating and promoting the event. “The Hooley Pub Crawl is always well attended and important for downtown foot traffic. This year is especially important since construction has limited pedestrians to the area.” She continues, “We’re encouraging everyone to come downtown, have a great time, and support the local businesses.”
“The Hooley Pub Crawl is always well attended and important for downtown foot traffic.” - Melinda Kelleher, Executive Director, Downtown Development Commission.
Dan Bowser, Owner of MEZZOS, a participating cocktail and tapas restaurant along South Centre Street, said, “The downtown is a hidden gem between Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. This pub crawl is a great opportunity for those who might not be familiar with Downtown Cumberland to experience the wonderful restaurants that we have here.”
The annual event attracts residents to enjoy a night out in their community and newcomers to experience Cumberland. According to the event’s Facebook invite, 900 attendees have expressed interest in this year’s 25th annual celebration that will bring revenue to businesses and increase awareness of the area’s ample dining establishments, nearby attractions, and the liveliness of Western Maryland.
Bowser impresses, “The event always turns out to be a really great day for Downtown Cumberland and its businesses. People come out from around the tri-state area to join in.” Bowser adds, “I’ve even had friends come from Ohio and as far as Indiana to experience the event.”
"The downtown is a hidden gem between Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. This pub crawl is a great opportunity for those who might not be familiar with Downtown Cumberland to experience the wonderful restaurants that we have here." - Dan Bowser, Owner of MEZZOS.
Dusty Robosson, Manager at Uncle Jack’s Pizzeria & Pub on Mechanic Street has participated in the Hooley Pub Crawl in the past. She notes, “A lot of out-of-towners that visit us before the event see our promotions and end up coming back for the pub crawl. We’ve seen an increase in repeat business from Hooley.”
The Baltimore Street Grill will offer an Irish-themed food menu featuring classics like shepherd’s pie and new renditions like Guinness burgers. The grill has been curating a special Irish menu for Hooley participants since the event began. This year, they look forward to welcoming regulars and newcomers alike. Jessica Harding, Owner of the Baltimore Street Grill, said, “Our menu brings in a lot of our regulars each year; the event also draws a new, typically younger, crowd. Any new people downtown are great because they see what we have to offer and come back.” Just down the street, the Centre Street Collective will also serve an Irish-themed menu and host a local music act, Connaught Brogues.
“Generally, January and February are the slowest months for our business. The Hooley Pub Crawl is a big ‘pop’ in revenue this time of year.” - Dusty Robosson, Manager at Uncle Jack’s Pizzeria & Pub.
For the participating and surrounding businesses, the event presents a welcome spike in patronage during a typically quiet season. Robosson shares, “Generally, January and February are the slowest months for our business. The Hooley Pub Crawl is a big ‘pop’ in revenue this time of year.” She adds, “All our staff works double shifts that day. It’s a marker that our season is getting ready to open up. We count it down and can’t wait for the event to start.”
Kelleher shares that while construction is ongoing, the downtown Cumberland sidewalks and walkways are open for pedestrians to maneuver easily and safely from one location to another. “All of the locations that participate really go above and beyond to make sure that they have special offerings and follow the Irish theme. They really make the effort; I hope people also make the effort to come out and support.”
The Hooley Pub Crawl will begin on Saturday, March 16th, at 12:00 pm and continue through 1:00 am the next day. Click here for more information on the event.
