Geneva, Illinois
October 3rd, 2026
Congratulations to our 2025 winners!
The winning ticket, drawn from the Geneva History Museum submissions, belongs to Marc Farmer.
Marc has chosen Rising Lights Project as the recipient of the raffle proceeds. Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who participated!
Rising LIghts Project

$9,000 donated to local nonprofits, thanks to YOU!

Day-Of Details

PRE-PARTY AT THE GENEVA HISTORY MUSEUM
  • You must have your ticket(s) purchased in advance! At purchase, 25% of your payment goes directly to the charity you selected.
  • Check in, and pick up your map and key ring. You will have one ticket for each location and one QR code to share about our event.
  • Each ticket on your key ring will have your unique registration number on the back – this is how we will identify our winner.
  • Stay with us for a glass of complimentary champagne and a picture at our photo booth.
THE CRAWL
  • Stop at our participating locations in any order. 
  • Grab dinner and appetizers along the way. 
  • After you purchase food, merchandise, or a drink, leave the ticket matching the location in the Black Tie box (usually near the bar or host stand). 
  • Each ticket dropped equals one raffle entry. 
POST EVENT
  • Follow our social media for announcements about the raffle winner.
  • If you are the raffle winner, the remaining 75% from all ticket sales will go to the charity you selected.
BLACK TIE BEHAVIOR

This isn’t your average bar crawl. Drinking is not a requirement! If you do choose to drink alcohol, please do so responsibly.

We loved BTBC 2025!

If you are a Geneva business interested in joining us in 2026, please get in touch with us at blacktiebarcrawl@geneva.com.

Thank you so much to our sponsors who committed to our 2025 Black Tie Bar Crawl! We loved making an elegant impact with you.

Black Tie Bar Crawl Locations, 2025

“Every day is black tie optional.” 

-Dwight Schrute

Dress Code

See what Vogue has to say in this link.

The Knot has some options listed for purchase at the bottom of this link.

Some guidelines: 
  • Wear the nicest thing in your closet! Tuxedos and floor-length dresses are ideal.
  • Wear classy, yet sensible shoes. There will be lots of walking.
  • Accessorize. It’s all in the details.
  • Opt for a rental if purchasing your attire is less ideal. Rent the Runway and Men’s Warehouse are excellent options.
 

Participating Charities

  • Geneva History Museum: To preserve and share Geneva’s evolving story while inspiring and engaging the community via collecting, preserving, researching, and educating
  • Living Well Cancer Resource Center: To provide free programs and services to patients with cancer and their caretakers and family members
  • Northern Illinois Food Bank: Provide nutritious food and resources for our neighbors, with dignity, equity and convenience, through partnerships and innovation
  • Anderson Humane: To champion the welfare of animals and improve the lives of people through programs that create mutually beneficial human-animal connections, inspiring kindness and respect throughout our community
  • Rising Lights Project: To encourage, educate, and empower so that people from all areas of our communities – neighbors to political leaders, business owners, and more -can clearly see the ability in disability and create new opportunities to keep those with disability engaged and connected.
  • TriCity Family Services: Providing quality mental health services that are accessible and affordable. We support, encourage, validate, and respect all.

Event hosts

Ashley Perez

Outreach Coordinator

 Ashley@blacktiegeneva.com 

Emma Burns

Founder, Financial Coordinator, and Social Media Manager

Emma@blacktiegeneva.com 

Mallory Sunday

Media & Web Manager with Sunday Creative

Mallory@blacktiegeneva.com 

Thank you

We love this event because we see how our community comes together to support their own. If you’ve given us a kind word, shared constructive ideas, or helped us problem-solve, know that you are the best kind of person, and we love you for it. In particular, we’d like to shout out Brian Sunday, Kristen Holly, Lindsey White, Caitlyn Nagel, Christine Frister, and the team and volunteers at The Geneva History Museum. We wouldn’t want to do this hard work without you!