First Friday and the Downtown Gainesville Santa Crawl are teaming up for a night of festive fun on Friday, Dec. 7 starting at 6 p.m. at Vellos Brickstreet Grill. Santa Crawl participants will enjoy a special five-venue pub crawl during First Friday, a monthly themed event showcasing the amazing community and culture unique to Gainesville. This month’s First Friday, officially titled “Tuaca Presents First Friday: Holiday Lights,” will feature holiday-themed specials at over 30 bars and restaurants, a raffle with thousands in prizes, live music, art and local craft vendors. “By incorporating Santa Crawl into First Friday, we’re uniting two amazing events focused on making charitable giving a fun experience,” said Jason Bowman, Executive Director of the Pledge 5 Foundation, the organization that coordinates First Friday. Created for those who want to celebrate the season while helping local children have a happier Christmas, Santa Crawl participants are asked to dress in a holiday-themed costume and donate an unopened, kid-friendly toy or food item. Suggested food items include, but are not limited to: canned meats like tuna, chicken and vienna sausage, as well as canned ravioli, vegetables, soup and chili. Food and toy donations will be dispersed to local children through the Holiday Backpack Program and Toys for Tots. The event will feature a costume contest at midnight during the First Friday after party at Sharab Lounge. Sexiest Santa (Mr. or Mrs.) will win a salon package to the Sixth Street Station Salon and Best Holiday Costume will win a cruise for two to the Bahamas. This year’s Santa Crawl schedule will be as follows: Vellos Brickstreet Grill from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m, Tall Paul’s from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., a group photo at the Hippodrome Theater at 8:45 p.m., Lillian’s Music Store at 9:00 p.m., First Friday’s Monster Energy Endof-the-Night Raffle outside the Opera House at 10:00 p.m., Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar at 10:30 p.m., and the official First Friday: Holiday Lights After Party hosted by Tuaca at Sharab Lounge beginning at 11:30 p.m. The venues will offer exclusive specials and waive any cover charge for those participating in Santa Crawl. In addition to the planned schedule, Santa Crawl participants are invited to share in First Friday festivities. While First Friday is a free event, Santas will be treated to half-price VIP admission, which unlocks free food and drinks, raffle entry, valet parking and carriage rides. VIP admission can be purchased the night of the event or online at http://holidaylights2012.eventbrite.com. For more information about Santa Crawl, visit http://downtowngainesvillesantacrawl.com or http://fb.com/downtowngainesvillesantacrawl. To learn more about First Friday, visit http://firstfridaygainesville.com or http://fb.com/firstfridaygainesville. About Santa Crawl The Downtown Gainesville Santa Crawl is an annual pub crawl for those who want to celebrate the holiday season while helping local children have a happier Christmas. Participants are required to dress up in costumes related to the holiday season and bring a donation of an unopened, kid-friendly toy or food item. About First Friday First Friday is Gainesville’s largest happy hour and your passport to downtown. Presented by the The Pledge 5 Foundation, the unique themed monthly event features food, drinks, art, vendors, live music,community and culture unique to Gainesville. For more information about Santa Crawl or First Friday, contact press@pledge5.org or 352-325-3514.