Christopher Festa, the man who turned a small gathering of friends at a Clybourn Avenue brewpub into one of Chicago's biggest bar crawls, says this December will be his last time running it. The 30th annual Twelve Bars of Christmas crawl, known to regulars as TBOX, is set for December 12 in Wrigleyville, and Festa says it will be his final year producing and leading the event.
Festa started TBOX in 1996 when he got a group of friends together at Goose Island Brewpub on Clybourn Avenue, according to Block Club Chicago. Three decades later, he's 60 years old and says it's time to close that chapter. “While I've avoided growing up in many ways, being 60 now feels like the right time to close this chapter of my life,” Festa said. “It's been a beautiful ride, but closing time is almost here.”
From a Few Dozen Friends to a Quarter-Million Revelers
What began as a casual outing grew into a sprawling annual tradition that drew thousands of costumed revelers to Wrigleyville bars every December. By 2003 the crawl had grown to more than 2,000 people, and by 2010 it was drawing more than 10,000, per the same Block Club Chicago report. Over the years, organizers say TBOX has attracted more than 250,000 participants total.
Attendance estimates for the event have varied by source and year. A separate Tribune guide published the following year estimated about 12,000 attended in 2018. By 2012, the Tribune had estimated the crawl drew between 30,000 and 35,000 people, and by 2023 the event had grown to include 25 participating bars, with thousands turning out for the 27th annual crawl, Block Club Chicago reported at the time.
What's Planned for the Finale
The 30th annual crawl, which Festa says will be his final year producing and leading the event, kicks off with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. at the Cubby Bear, located at 1059 W. Addison St., and wraps with closing ceremonies at the same venue at 7 p.m. The event is open to people 21 and older and is expected to include roughly 20 Wrigleyville bars, though the lineup is subject to change. Bars slated to participate include Old Crow Smokehouse, Stolen Saddle, Moe's Cantina, Tin Roof, HVAC, Country Club, Murphy's Bleachers, Rabbit Hole, Stretch, Roadhouse 66 and Pilot Project Brewing.
Tickets are advertised for as little as $5 during a limited-time promotion, with prices expected to rise as the event gets closer. Packages include admission, breakfast buffets, gift cards, drink specials, live music, giveaways and other perks, according to the event's own listings.
A Charitable Side to the Chaos
Festa has said a portion of this year's proceeds will again go to charity, continuing a practice that's been part of TBOX for years. Festa Parties Incorporated says it has donated more than $370,000 to local charities over three decades, including Lakeview Pantry, now known as Nourishing Hope, and the Lakeview East Community Partnership, according to TBOX's own website. A separate 2022 announcement from Festa Parties and Chicago 20 Something stated the two companies together had donated more than $500,000 to local charities, though that figure covers both companies and isn't broken down the same way as the $370,000 total tied specifically to TBOX.
The crawl's legacy extends beyond the neighborhood bars that have benefited from it. TBOX helped establish the kind of large-scale, costume-themed bar crawls that have since become common across the country, Block Club Chicago reported, and it became a major annual draw for Wrigleyville's bar scene during what's otherwise a slow stretch of winter. The event hasn't been without its downsides, either — it has also been linked to episodes of drunken belligerence and violence in the neighborhood over the years.
Festa's Farewell Message
Festa has been reflective about the milestone in public comments tied to the announcement. “What started as a little gathering in 1996 has lasted half my life, and it's become more than I ever could have imagined,” he said. He's framed the upcoming crawl as a last call of sorts for anyone with a connection to the event. “Whether you come every year or you used to or you've never been, this will be the last time you can experience the power and the passion, the romance and the drama and the thrills and excitement and the cereal shots,” Festa said.
He's also been quoting the Grateful Dead in talking about the event's run, telling people: “Didn't we almost have it all?” before answering his own question. “Well, the answer is no because we did have it all,” he said. Festa is encouraging neighbors to gather their friends and join him for one final trip down Clark Street this December. What isn't yet clear is whether anyone will pick up the reins and keep TBOX going in some form after Festa steps away — he has not said whether the event will continue without him.
