Thousands of people are expected in downtown Halifax on Friday night to try to set a world record for the largest pub crawl.

The current record holder is Maryborough, Australia, where 2,237 people meandered from bar to bar last June.
Halifax organizer Jonathan DeYoung says the 3,200 tickets available for the event have already been sold.

"Response is great and that's awesome because it just shows pride for your entertainment and nightlife scene," says DeYoung, who's with High Impact Promotions Ltd.

DeYoung plans to split the crowd into 19 smaller groups that will make their way to 26 different bars between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Each group will have a different colour wristband and they'll be text-messaged when they're supposed to head to the next bar.

For $20, each pub crawler can expect a free T-shirt and drink specials.

DeYoung admits he's making a "reasonable" salary from ticket sales, but says a local charity can expect a big cheque.

Having the title of "world's largest pub crawl" is good for tourism in Halifax, DeYoung says, and he hopes to repeat the event next year.

First, the city has to beat Australia and be recognized by Guinness World Records. DeYoung says he has to send the group proof, including registration lists and testimonials from bar owners, once the event is over.

Meanwhile, Halifax Regional Police say more officers than usual will be patrolling the downtown area Friday night.