Pub Crawl proceeds up 30 percent

The 11th annual Ferndale Pub Crawl drew 1,600 people and raised over $21,000, a 30 percent increase over last year's event.
"The event went off without a hitch," said Craig Covey, a city councilman and co-founder of the event. "No problems, no fights, no injuries, no arrests."
Over $16,000 of the net profits will be divided between five Ferndale charities: Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, the Ferndale Police Auxiliary, the Friends Community Garden, the Ferndale Community Foundation and the Ferndale Green Cruise. Crowds at Soho and Monkey Bar were as large as Motor City Pride festivities while Rosie O' Grady's and Howe's Bayou drew record crawlers, Covey noted. Twenty-two bars, coffeehouses, clubs and restaurants participated in the event.
The first pub crawl was held in 1997 and drew about 35 people who visited six venues. "Next year we expect the event to grow again, and have set a goal of $25,000 in fundraising," Covey said.