Holiday Pub Crawl looks to fundraise for Victory Theatre

Dec. 12, 2022 | Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE – There will be a Holiday Pub Crawl in the city of Holyoke on Dec. 17 to help with fundraising efforts for the Victory Theatre restoration.

For just $30 per person, tickets are available for the fundraising pub crawl through Holyoke that will cover transportation, food and a Victory Theatre souvenir.

The event starts at 4:30 p.m. at The Clubhouse on 209A South St. to prepare for the crawl itself. At 5:45 p.m., the bus leaves for the Pub Crawl through the city and will stop at local spots like City Sports, Brennan’s, The Clover and Pic’s Pub.

To purchase tickets visit www.mifafestival.org/events.

Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA) Victory Theatre Communications Officers Emily Mann said restoration efforts for the theatre began in 2009 when MIFA acquired the Victory Theatre. The 1,600 seat Broadway-style theater opened in 1920 and had been derelict since 1979 before MIFA acquired the space.

“Since the project started in 2009, we’ve been through quite a bit. Fundraising is our main goal,” Mann said.

The Victory is being restored through a financing package which includes private, individual, corporate and foundation donations, public grants and State and Federal Historic Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits. The pub crawl looks to raise additional funding for restoration.

One of the most recent restoration projects for the theater was putting polycarbonate in the windows based off a city request. Smaller projects around the building have gone through minor restoration as MIFA continues raising funds for total restoration of the space.

“It’s so historic. People have gone through with a fine-tooth comb determining what needs to be restored, replaced. Determining based off of the applications we fill out for the historic tax credit is what we will do with the project,” Mann said.

Mann added the pub crawl is intended to get the community and local businesses involved as well as continue riding the momentum of their fundraising efforts. She added that she hopes those who come out have a great night in the community.

“We spoke to all the bars attending and they were more than happy and willing to be participants in this great benefit for the Victory’s restoration,” Mann said. “We’re hoping we get our normal supporters but also some new people who might think this is a fun holiday event to do while they’re at home. We hope people will get tickets, come enjoy it, learn more about the Victory and what we’ve done. It’s going to be such a fun night. We hope to see a sold out bus to support the Victory and the local pubs and restaurants we will be visiting on the crawl.”

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