Well, it’s almost over! Many ballots have already been cast, and soon, we’ll be free from heated radio and television campaign ads, the pollster calls and the serious influx of junk mail.

So, what are you doing election night? You can stay home, prepare a big American feast (apple pie and chicken fried steak encouraged) and hang out with us online, where we’ll be posting results from the polls, interviews with politicians and other election night updates.

Or you can head out into the world and celebrate (fingers crossed!) with your fellow voters.

Your election night party options:

Hotel Congress
Polls close at 7 p.m., and that’s when the party is getting started at Hotel Congress (311 E. Congress St.). Declaring itself the “Unofficial Democratic Headquarters of Tucson and Arizona,” Congress is delivering an evening of live music, prizes and surprises. They’re advertising drink specials from 9 p.m. to midnight ($4 Bulleit and Stoli, $6 Doubles, $4 Lagunitas), which might prove necessary depending on how the evening goes.

Rialto Theatre
Across the street, the Rialto Theatre (318 E. Congress St.) will be projecting election results as they roll in. Bring the kids, munch on some popcorn and try to handle your anxiety about the future of the world. The party starts at 7:30 p.m.

Public Brewhouse
Public Brewhouse (209 N. Hoff Ave.) is inviting you over to laugh and cry as this mess of an election cycle finally rolls to an end. Poppy the beer dog will be there to offer up some snuggle therapy and, of course, there will be lots of local beer. Cast your ballot and start the party early at Public, which is opening its doors at 4 p.m.

Ermanos Braft Beer & Wine’s Election Day ‘Murica TacoThon
Ermanos (220 N. 4th Ave.) is turning the electoral college into a discount system. I’ll let them explain:

When any state’s delegates are awarded, the Tap Handle corresponding to that quantity of delegates becomes a $2-off Happy Tap.

Example 1: AZ 11 delegates called for Candidate X = Tap 11.
Example 2: CA 55 delegates called for Candidate Y = Tap 10 (5+5).
By the end of the night, nearly all (or all) of our Main Bar taps will be on special! 

Plus, $2 tacos and (prepare to get your patriotic on) free pocket constitutions for the first 50 attendees. They do have to rules: Be respectful and no dueling. Do your best. The fun starts at 5 p.m.

The Men’s Project
UA students, join the Men’s Project at the Women’s Resource Center (Suite 404 in the Student Union) for an evening of free food and conversation about how this year’s election will impact marginalized communities and students. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Or, if you’re feelin’ fancy, you can join the political hopefuls themselves.

The Democrats will be celebrating at the Marriott (880 E. Second St.) from 7 to 11 p.m., and you can RSVP online.

Looking to celebrate with the GOP? The official party will be at the Sheraton (5151 E. Grant Road) starting at 7 p.m.

Other public election viewing parties will be taking place at IBT’s, Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon & BBQ, 420 Social Club, Brodie’s Tavern, R Bar and Tap & Bottle, where our American Babylon pals will be hosting the evening. If the election stress is far too much for you, head over to Grounded Wellness (3230 N. Dodge Blvd.) and bring your “I voted” sticker for some free yoga.

This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2016.

Bookworm, cat lady, journalism enthusiast.

11 replies on “Celebrate the End of Campaign Season at an Election Night Party”

  1. Seriously…celebrate the 2016 election? OK, fine – the fact that it is officially over is cause for celebration, not unlike a life-saving radical extreme-measures operation to stave off a terminal disease; however, this country is going to need a long time to recuperate from the injuries inflicted on it by both parties. And let us not forget the wacked-out mad scientist doctor that presided over this Frankenstein-like horror show: the media, in all its forms from mainstream to social. Meanwhile, the patient – our nation – is in the ICU, hoping and praying for a cure or at least a remission of the life-threatening and debilitating disease that our political system has become.

  2. Here’s a suggestion for election night: stay home and do a marathon watch of the excellent British political mini-series “The Thick of It,” and / or the feature film made by the same crew, “In the Loop.” What’s depicted is a different system (prime minister & parliamentary democracy), but many of the mechanisms that make electoral politics the unique nightmare they have become are the same as the mechanisms operating in our country: in particular, the role the mass media plays in a system that depends on the electorate to select leadership. Watching this brilliant and extremely profane representation of how it all works is a sick sort of fun, but instructive.

  3. The Orange Overlord is done. Yeah, there might be a crooked person that is going to become Commander in Chief instead, but hey…she’s still a better option than Satan himself! At least the crooked person seems like she wants avoid nuclear war. That in itself is a relief.

  5. I was doing a bit of self improvement thanks to some difficult people at work. And happened to read up on “Snakes in Suits” … First, it motivated me vote early. And then I gained an entirely new outlook on those last minute political ads .. one of detached amusement.

  8. Demo vote fraud, open borders, giving felons the vote in Va., and she still loses. Its an orange crush and she is headed to prison.

  10. Did anybody notice that Democrats made no claims of vote fraud against last night’s election. They know where it comes from and it’s them. Have a nice four years. My work here is done.

  11. True, you were the only one who mentioned that the system is rigged. So that obviously means that whoever won rigged the system. You said it, I didn’t.

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