Come bar crawl for the turtles and Alexandria's Boys & Girls Club this weekend, Oct. 21 and 22, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. It's the kick off to the organization's fund-raising event to be held Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 11 a.m.
Each participating bar will be selling adoption papers for customers to "adopt" a turtle and become a sponsor of the Annual Turbo Turtle Trek next Saturday. Individual sponsorships are available at $5 each, a pack of 10 for $45, and a Ninja Crew of 20 for $90.
Participating establishments and times for the crawl are:
* Friday, Oct. 21 — Rocket Grill, 7:30 p.m.; Vermillion, 8:15 p.m.; Austin Grill, 9 p.m.; Portner's, 9:45 p.m.; and Pat Troy's Ireland's Own, 10:30 p.m.
* Saturday, Oct. 22 — Murphy's, 7:30 p.m.; Founder's Brewery, 8:15 p.m.; Portner's, 9 p.m.; King Street Blues, 9:45 p.m.; and Pat Troy's Ireland's Own, 10:30 p.m.
BOTH THE BAR and server that sell the most adoptions will receive a prize, according to James Almond, executive director, Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club. "We are also holding adoptions at local Safeway stores," Almond said.
"The stores vary from week to week. But, anyone wanting to know which stores are offering the adoptions should just call us at 703-549-3077," he said.
"All this week and next, between 4 and 6 p.m., our "turtle" can be found walking up and down King Street handing out adoption papers. We will also be at the Farmer's Market this Saturday morning," Almond said.
IN ADDITION to individual sponsors, corporate sponsorships are available. These range from $250 to $5,000. The various levels of sponsorship are $5,000 Ninja Turtle, $2,500 Super Turtle, $1,000 Lucky Turtle, $500 Turbo Turtle, and $250 Snapping Turtle. Each category provides various levels of corporate exposure.
Sponsorship of the "turtles" will provide funds for the myriad activities of the club that serves 430 youth annually with everything from special tutoring, to computer classes, to sports leagues. The goal of the upcoming event is to raise $10,000 to support those efforts, according to Almond.
"Corporate sponsors will be prominently displayed on all banners and signage at the event, as well as listed in the event program,"
Almond said.
The event features 10,000 rubber turtles racing across Lake Cook which is located behind Cameron Run Water Park, 4000 block of Eisenhower Avenue. The actual race commences at 2 p.m. with the finish scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The winner will be announced at approximately 2:45 p.m.
Other activities will include carnival fun, music, giveaways, and family events. There will also be a performance by the "Twirl Factory," according to Almond.
"We are not selling the turtles. They can be adopted by the sponsors, individuals or corporate," he said.
For more information on the event and how to become a sponsor contact Jim Almond at 703-549-3077 or jalmond@bgcgw.org. Or join the bar crawl this weekend.