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Posted on 11/23/2021 7:29:08 PM PST by lightman
Get ready to party like it’s 2019.
After COVID-19 restrictions squashed Thanksgiving Eve parties last year, central Pennsylvania bars and clubs are revving up for the return of a holiday tradition.
“So far, we’re planning to have a normal Thanksgiving Eve,” said Bill Kokos, owner of Sierra Madre Saloon in Hampden Township.
The Mexican themed establishment is hosting a deejay and will have televisions tuned to major sporting events.
Known as “Drinksgiving,” the night before Thanksgiving is considered to be one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. Traditionally, revelers pack bars and restaurants for a few hours of reunions and rabble rousing before gathering with family the next day.
The annual migration of college students returning home for the holiday weekend and others — many of whom don’t have to work the next morning — contribute to the night’s popularity.
This year’s gatherings are expected to be more festive than last year when establishments across the state were ordered to halt alcohol sales at 5 p.m. Gov. Tom Wolf issued the restriction to curb the spread of coronavirus cases.
This year, the state’s hospitality industry is operating under no restrictions.
Still, owners like Ron Kamionka, who operates a handful of Harrisburg city establishments including Odyssey nightclub, recognize some people remain apprehensive about going out in large gatherings.
“I think it’s going to be a little lighter than a typical Thanksgiving Eve, but still strong,” he said.
He’s basing his estimate on Halloween traffic.
“We had a really strong Halloween. It wasn’t a record breaker but you can’t sneeze at the volume,” Kamionka said.
Gary Huether, co-owner of the Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar chain, said he’s also predicting heavier traffic compared to 2020, especially as more people this year are traveling over Thanksgiving.
The downtown Harrisburg Arooga’s typically draws some of the biggest crowds of the chain’s locations due to its proximity to other establishments, he said. Over the course of the night, people tend to hop from bar to bar.
In recent months, the restaurant industry has faced labor shortages, supply chain issues and higher food prices. Huether said plenty of employees are scheduled as well as additional security in place for the night.
Sierra Madre’s Kokos said the main focus on the night is always monitoring crowds and checking for identification at the front door. For the most part, the evening starts out with families and older adults out to dinner, mostly because they don’t feel like cooking ahead of Thanksgiving Day.
“It’s a legacy night and then it transitions later on into more of the younger, college-age crowd on break and it’s the traditional start when they are home and they can unwind,” Kokos said.
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Governor Wolf announced that dictate with less than 48 hours notice.
Then ordered a Christmas shut down of indoor dining with only slightly longer notice.
NEVER FORGET!
Different strokes for different folks, but it has never occurred to me to spend Thanksgiving in a bar.
Me, either.
Notwithstanding, what Wolf did last year was mean-spirited and crushing to the hospitality industry.
And did d@man little to "stop the spread" because now, even with the vaunted golden syringe idol of "the vaccine" we are almost at the same level of "cases".
So what did all this Bravo Sierra REALLY accomplish?
really? you’ve pissed on us for 2 years!
Excuse me if I dont invite you to dinner JACKASS!!
Well yer not a vfw guy
spent many thanksgivings away from home
One of the biggest drinking nights of the year.
I’m in central PA, back and forth between scranton and harrisburg. Lots of watering holes and very bad drivers. I rarely drive at night, roads not well lit and too many deer, never mind drunks.
Lots of guns and Trump supporters too. Less than half of everyone wearing masks anymore. Not a lot of covid.
So far there’s no place in the USA I’d rather live, all things considered.
“Different strokes for different folks, but it has never occurred to me to spend Thanksgiving in a bar.”
Me either.
“Different strokes for different folks, but it has never occurred to me to spend Thanksgiving in a bar.”
For the most part it is college kids and other 20 somethings that are home and catching up with old friends. I saw it first hand a few times. Some years when my son comes in the day before Thanksgiving, he wants a burger from the local bar. He and I go to get takeout and have a couple of cold ones while we wait on the food. The place would be packed with young people and he always saw a few old friends from HS.
Then ordered a Christmas shut down of indoor dining with only slightly longer notice.
NEVER FORGET!
No doubt if he could do it again this year and every year forever more he would. The lockdown was one part tyranny, two parts bullied rich kid taking revenge on a society that never invited him out to parties, and three parts proof of his inability to lead being showcased in real time. It saved no lives, contributed to many long lasting health problems throughout the state, and ruined so many businesses. Kind of makes me wonder what his frumpy transvestite henchman is cooking up these days... can't be anything good.
I just canceled Thanksgiving dinner 30 people.My granddaughter who lives with us became sick last night and tested positive this morning.
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