Controversial pub crawl date changed

Crawl will happen July 6th, not July 4th

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla.The controversy over a planned pub crawl at Jacksonville Beach on the Fourth of July is over. After outcry from city leaders in Jacksonville Beach about the pub crawl, organizers have pushed the crawl back to Saturday, July 6, instead of having the crawl on the fourth. 

The city was concerned about crowd control on what is expected to be a bus Fourth of July celebration at the beach. Organizers said they still expect to have a successful event that will draw business to the beach bars, but critics told Channel 4 that the crawl date shouldn't change.  

Charles Wagoner runs local website, 904happyhour.com. When Wagoner planned an Independence Day pub crawl at Jacksonville Beach, he never expected the controversy or the publicity it brought with it.

"Just a lot of pressure on us," said Wagoner. "Want to make sure everything goes smooth down here on Fourth of July."

The mayor of Jacksonville Beach, Charlie Latham, sent a letter to beach businesses asking them not to participate in the pub crawl. The city said they wanted to change the pub crawl so that Independence Day activities would be more family friendly.

"Well, we just wanted to make sure everyone has a good time," said Wagoner. "We're all about families having a good time. We don't want there to be any problems. Everybody seems really happy about it being moved and it's going to help businesses on both days now."