HOW THE CRAWL WORKS

CHOOSE YOUR TEAM

JOIN KWANZAA CRAWL by first picking your team. Teams are groups of about 50 - 150 people who will move together for the crawl. Teams criss-cross, split up, and mesh together so you’ll keep meeting new folks all night! There are a few ways attendees decide what team is best for them.

Pick A Team by either: 

  • Choosing the bar you’d like to head to right after the kick-off. Each team will go to 3 scheduled stops. We’ll surprise you with the 2nd and 3rd stops on the day of the Crawl. After your 3rd stop, you can hop around to any participating Kwanzaa Crawl venues you want!. 

  • Choosing the team leader you’d like to follow for the night. Team leaders are like your turnt tour-guides; they’re all great but if there’s someone specific you want to be with, that's the team to choose.  

  • Choosing a neighborhood and picking a Wildcard ticket. The Kwanzaa Crawl team will pick a team for you and your group. 

  • Choosing an experience. Kwanzaa Crawl offers curated experiences, like a smaller party inside a big ass party! Here is the 2025 List of experiences: 

D9 Teams
Team 2 - Damballa
Team 19 - Bird Pepper

Venue Takeovers
Fun With Friends - Pacific BK
The Block Association - Scales
Lonnie & The Happy Hour Legends - Brooklyn Bank
Dope BBQ - Ivy Park

Stay & Play Venue
Saint James Libation

  • Literally just picking one. It’s hard to have a bad time at Kwanzaa Crawl, so just get in where you fit in! Teams fill up fast and we cannot add people to sold out teams. (team size is determined by venue capacity, ignoring that capacity is unsafe, illegal, and causes wrinkles.)

Pro Tip: If you’re crawling with friends, be sure to select the same team. Double check the number and letter if there is one. 

ROUTES

The routes are pre-planned and intentionally kept a surprise. You won’t know all the bars your team will hit until you get your Kwanzaa Crawl map at the Kick-Off ceremony.

Each moving team visits three bars between Kick-Off and 9 PM.
At 9 PM, everyone is free to hop around to any participating Kwanzaa Crawl venue—even outside your original neighborhood.
(No driving. We’re not playing those games.)

How many spots you hit after 9 PM is entirely up to you and your stamina. Crawl ’til you fall if that’s your ministry.

We also offer accessible, wheelchair-friendly routes. If your group needs one, just reach out, and we’ll send the list.

The Stay & Play team at Saint James Libation will not rotate. They spend the night at one venue for a day-party-style experience. They are free to visit any other venue(s) after 9 PM should they wish. 

Kwanzaa Crawl 2025 features 15+ Black-owned bars and restaurants across multiple Brooklyn neighborhoods, all ready with DJs, drink specials, food, and more.

Don’t forget to use #KwanzaaCrawl2025 when you post your pics and videos — we give awards for Best Fit, Hottest DJ, Most Turnt Team, and more.

BEFORE THE CRAWL


YOU MUST GET YOUR WRISTBAND BEFORE THE CRAWL.

You’ve got two ways to make that happen:

Option 1: Pick Up In Person (Dec 20–21, Brooklyn Navy Yard)
Enjoy our Buy Black Pop-Up with dope vendors, DJs, and community vibes.
Arrive early and you might snag a free Kwanzaa Crawl cup!

Option 2: Get It Mailed (Order by Dec 12)
Choose the shipping add-on and your wristband should arrive by Dec 20. 

LEARN FROM THE OLD HEADs: FIRST-TIMER SURVIVAL TIPS

  • Wear comfortable shoes.
     Your feet and back determine how long you last. Don’t play yourself by tapping out early.

  • Load your cards in advance.
     Tipsy, in the cold, running through Bushwick is not the time to find out your card is declining.

  • Go all in.
     Kwanzaa Crawl is a full-body, full-voice experience. It’s fun to watch, but it hits different when you actually jump in.
    Dance ’til your edges sweat out, shout back at your team leader, and hit every “Habari Gani!” when you pass another team. (That’s Swahili for “what’s good!”)

DAY OF THE CRAWL

Kwanzaa Crawl starts with a Kick-Off (we agonized over the name, clearly).

On December 26, you’ll meet your team and your team leader at your assigned Kick-Off time and location.

Every team has a different Kick-Off window, so double-check yours before you roll out.

At Kick-Off, we light the kinara, connect with each other, and then hit the streets together for the first round of bars. Teams criss-cross, mix, split, link back up, and yes, have spontaneous dance-offs right in the middle of the street.

Yes, it’s actually happened.
Yes, it’s exactly as lit as it sounds.

ON THE STREETS

Have fun. Be merry. Cut up, fam.
Your team leader will be blasting the official Kwanzaa Crawl playlist as your squad moves between venues, so treat it like the moving block party it is. Sing, dance, strut, buss a wine, whatever makes your soul happy.

Most bars are about 10 – 20 minutes apart on foot, so you’ll have plenty of time to choreograph something legendary. Some routes hop on the train, so make sure your OMNY/MetroCard is ready.

We also offer wheelchair-accessible routes, so if you’re crawling on wheels, you’re absolutely part of the party.

SAFETY
Kwanzaa Crawl encourages you to show up and show out — but we DO have a few rules and guidelines to keep everybody safe. Let’s review:

WHAT TO BRING

  • Cash

  • OMNY/MetroCard (load it beforehand)

  • A full stomach to start

  • A positive, cooperative attitude

  • Comfortable shoes

  • Cell phone + charger

  • Valid 21+ ID

WHAT TO KNOW

Security is real.
 Venues have security and can deny entry if you’re too intoxicated, disruptive, or aggressive.

You’re responsible for yourself.
 By joining the Crawl, you agree to consume responsibly and be accountable for your actions.

  • Do not drink and drive.

  • Do not damage property.

  • Do not wander off alone. Stay with your team.

Respect the neighborhoods.
 Some routes pass through residential blocks. If your team leader asks for quiet, please respect the people who live there and keep the volume down until you reach the next bar.

Police are aware.
 We notify NYPD about our routes and venues ahead of time. This is Brooklyn – you can’t move through the streets with thousands of people without giving them a heads-up to expect a karaoke parade.

Patience is essential.
The whole point of the Crawl is to flood Black-owned businesses with Black-earned dollars. These spots will be packed. Even with extra staff, lines happen. Breathe, vibe, and enjoy the moment.

Everything is subject to change.
Routes, teams, and venues may shift if needed. Keep an eye on your team leader and your map throughout the day.

JOINING US AFTER WORK?

Secure the bag, friend! Once you’re done with that you can meet with your team wherever they are. You’ll know your first bar since you picked it, and at 4 PM the QR code on your wristband will be scannable to reveal your team's schedule.

No crawlers left behind!