Kent State students had an opportunity to peel off campus Saturday and participate in Downtown Kent’s Banana Bar Crawl. 

The motif of the night was bananas, literally. Participants of the bar crawl were encouraged to complete challenges while dressed in life-sized banana costumes that would earn them banana-themed merchandise, as certain bars offered banana-flavored shots and other fruit-flavored drinks.

According to the Banana Bar Crawl’s Instagram, bar crawlers were to start the night at Barflyy at 6 p.m., but many began the night at bars on Franklin Avenue, such as Dominick’s or Ray’s. 

For many students, this year’s Banana Bar Crawl was the first one they participated in, though the reasons why they participated varied throughout.

For senior environmental studies major Abi Dowdy, the bar crawl was a birthday celebration. 

“I wanted to do something for my birthday, and last year I came home really tired and had to dodge bananas like Frogger, so I wanted to participate this time,” Dowdy said. 

On the other hand, senior radiation therapy major Rachel Rice found the bar crawl as an opportunity to have a fun night out. 

“Why would I not want to dress up on a beautiful Saturday night and have fun with my friends?” Rice said. 

Despite the varying reasons to participate in the bar crawl, many students felt a strong sense of community in downtown Kent.

“I just think it’s awesome because any bar that we’ve gone to, I’ve seen so many people in the costumes,” senior psychology major Kendal Gregory said. “It’s just a strong sense of community and everybody’s together.”  

According to an article in The Journal, the formal origin story of the Banana Bar Crawl started in Ontario, but Kent State might have had an unofficial banana bar crawl prior. 

According to Girard resident Tom Williams, the bar crawl began in 2022 when then-Kent State senior Michael Durkee and a group of friends took to downtown Kent dressed as bananas. 

“Michael Durkee and his group, I would argue, pioneered it, because nothing’s quite like being stuck in an apartment with 30 bananas and then all of them migrating down here to go and enjoy the bars,” Williams said. 

Lexie Blatnik is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected]. 

Sascha Aleksich is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].