'Cotati Crawl' Nightlife Remains A Sonoma State Student Tradition

COTATI, CA — After 10 p.m. on a Thursday, the quiet town of Cotati fills with Sonoma State University students taking the “Cotati Crawl.” For decades, neighboring bars on Redwood Highway have opened their doors to a throng of 21-and-up college students in a little-discussed rite-of-passage.

On Thursday nights, Old Redwood Highway rocks with live music and shines with neon lights as Sonoma State students line up for entry at each of the three bars. Though certain aspects have changed over the years, according to The Tradewinds bar owner Chase Myers, not all changes are bad. He told The Press Democrat about the current state of the “Cotati Crawl” tradition, saying the scene is a little safer and maybe calmer these days.

Though it began as a four-bar crawl near the university, these days, only three bars participate in the weekly adventure: Spancky’s, The 8 Ball Tavern, and The Tradewinds. The pandemic did a number on the famed bar scene, Myers told the Press Democrat. Still, the Cotati Crawl continues to draw crowds.

“I don’t know if that’s due to less amounts of people coming out, or maybe it’s just the new generation,” he said. “But it definitely still has the same atmosphere and the same vibe. Kids coming out, having fun, getting together with all their friends and meeting new people.”

The Cotati Crawl involves visiting each of the open bars and having a drink or a dance, and singing a karaoke tune. The only hard and fast rule, according to the Sonoma authorities, is no drinking and driving.

Students may play pool at Spancky’s or dance under the lasers and lights at The 8 Ball Tavern before heading to The Tradewinds for the DJ spinning top 40 hits.

The Tradewinds is known to pick up after 11:30 p.m., according to students in the know.

Bar owners schedule entertainment throughout the week, giving students and locals somewhere to go on nights other than Thursdays.

Though things changed in the post-pandemic culture of the Cotati Crawl crowd, one thing remains the same, according to Myers. The Tradewinds has “survived the storm.”