Relive your youth, this time with booze specials, at Fort Worth's Tacky Prom Pub Crawl

There will be taffeta dresses, satin shoes and awkwardly posed photos, but this time no chaperone will remind you to leave room for the Holy Spirit. That's right: It's prom for grown-ups, and it's coming up soon in Fort Worth.

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Now in its, um, "eleventeenth" year, this isn't Tacky Prom Pub Crawl's first romp through Cowtown, but the 2016 edition is likely to be the charitable event's biggest. Open for the first time to the public, as of right now, more than 2,000 locals have expressed interest in rolling out in costume on May 21.

Jesse Borries, this year's "Prom Committee Chair," says it started several years back as a way for a group of friends to raise a little money for good causes, but the momentum and number of attendees kept growing, so he decided to extend the invitation this year to anyone who wants to attend. That hasn't meant formal advertisement, though, just word-of-mouth notification via social media, mostly. So far, it's resulted in a "completely overwhelming" response, and he expects the actual number of attendees to reach upwards of 500. The buzz, he says, is exciting, but not entirely unexpected.

A lifelong Cowtowner, Borries is somewhat of a local ambassador.

He's involved with Rec Social Sports -- that's how he initially connected with the Tacky Prom committee-- and serves as an organizer for a MeetUp.com group that fosters community for folks new to the area. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter have brought in an influx of young professionals from out-of-town, many of whom are single, have expendable income and want to meet new friends, he says. They like going out, having fun and donating to good causes, but don't quite fit a more formal, affluent charity scene. And, they are arriving just as renovations to the West Seventh, Magnolia and downtown neighborhoods have invigorated Fort Worth's bubbling nightlife.

"Somebody comes in, and I'll buy 'em a drink and tell them what to do in town," he says. "And, if they want to help our charity, I'll definitely take their money."

About that charity: Tacky Prom Pub Crawl has supported a few over the years, including this year's beneficiary, Big Brothers Big Sister of North Texas, which receives 100 percent of the event's proceeds.

Borries, who has been a passionate Big Brother for seven years, says he was motivated in part to grow Tacky Prom this year due to the success of another recent '90s-themed pub crawl that rolled through Fort Worth. He talked to some of the bars that were involved and noted event-goers' enthusiasm but he couldn't figure out who had organized it. Some company came in, he surmises, raised a lot of money for profit and left town with it. He knew Tacky Prom -- and other potential future events like it -- could make as big a ridiculous, and ridiculously fun, scene while also making sure that money stayed local.

Tacky Prom kicks up its heels beginning at 7:30 p.m. on May 21 but the fun starts now: You're going to need an epic costume.

"People go all-out," Borries says. "Big hair, crimped hair, puffy sleeves. Pop culture references are the way to go." 

Those in the know try to up the ante each year and never repeat an idea, he says. One of his past favorites was a nod to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, where prom-goers showed up in tuxedo jackets and shorts. He's offered inspiration here, as well as recommendations for some of the best thrift stores in and around Fort Worth. If you're game-planning on the East side, Dallas Vintage Shop and Dolly Python are also good bets.

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Where you'll be crawling:

Landmark Bar & Kitchen: First stop is at 7:30 p.m. at this West Seventh location. There will be drink specials and a professional photographer to immortalize your tacky attire before a custom (that means handmade, with attention to cheesy detail) backdrop.

Bar Louie: The party moves here at 9 p.m. for special "Enchantment Under the Sea" shots and voting for Tacky Prom king and queen. There will also be "secret judges" mingling and checking out award-worthy costumes.

Social House: At 10:30 p.m., the hoard heads here for a Tacky Prom first -- a full-on, old school dance with all the quintessential jams, plus the crowning of prom king and queen. Because of high interest, it's a good idea to arrive early; overflow is a possibility, but Tacky Prom has you covered...

Varsity Tavern: In the event the dance reaches full capacity, guests can head on to the after party, for more drink specials and late night snacks until 2 a.m.

There's a $10 cover charge for the whole shebang, all of which goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Want to learn more about how local students are benefiting? Check out bbbstx.org.