Jan. 17, 2018

Zombies are out of season.

Ugly Christmas sweaters are back in the closet.

So this weekend is time for the onesie to take over downtown Sioux Falls.

And no, we’re not talking newborn attire.

Think adult one-piece pajamas with feet, hoods and animal themes. Then, picture people wearing them all over downtown bars and restaurants Saturday, Jan. 20.

That’s what a group of Republic National Distributing Co. employees had in mind when they decided to bring the event to Sioux Falls after hearing about them in larger cities.

“It’s just a slower time in the beginning of the year, and we were looking for things to do downtown and focused on the nightlife,” said Ashley Sorenson, who works at Republic and is helping organize the event.

Republic National and Dakota Beverage collaborated on the project, bringing business to many of their shared accounts through partnerships with some of their main brands, including Boulevard Brewing Co., Fernson Brewing Co., Jameson Irish Whiskey, O’Dell Brewing Co. and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

From 4 to 10 p.m., 15 downtown locations will offer drink specials. Bar crawl participants earn spaces on a bingo card as they visit bars and restaurants.

“Once you get a bingo, every bar will have prizes in it provided by the breweries, Tito’s and Jameson,” Sorenson said.

Bingo cards can be placed in a drawing at the end of the event, and winners will be contacted the following week to pick up additional prizes.

A Facebook event announcing the bar crawl quickly drew more than 1,000 interested attendees, so Sorenson is hoping downtown businesses will be filled with costumed guests. She’s encouraging people to shop downtown’s Crazy Days promotions before they participate in the onesie bar crawl.