The Texas Honky Tonk Activities Master List

Here, in one alphabetized place, is the master list of activities a Texas honky tonk can build a night around — the games, leagues, dances, contests, and traditions that turn an empty Tuesday into a reason to come out. Each entry gives you the essentials at a glance: what it is , roughly what it costs to start , the space it needs, any legal note worth flagging, and — the reason it’s in a PR book — the PR opportunity it opens. Costs are rough real-world ranges for a small venue and will vary; legal notes are pointers, not the law (see the chapters cited and Appendix G).

Don’t try to do them all — that’s the opposite of the point. Pick a few that fit your room, your crowd, and your character, do them with genuine commitment and a memorable name, and let them become traditions people plan their week around. The list is a menu to choose from, not a checklist to complete. And the last word, at the end, is the most important one: the best activity of all may be the one nobody else has — the one you invent.

A

Armadillo races. What: a novelty Texas race night (real, where legal and humane, or mechanical/toy stand-ins). Start: low–moderate. Space: a track area or floor lane. Legal: live-animal welfare and local rules — a vet and your insurer first; consider humane alternatives (Ch. 16). PR: pure only-in-Texas novelty the press loves.

Armadillo / critter “bingo” (see Bingo, chicken). Cross-reference below.

B

Beer pong. What: tournament or casual tables. Start: near zero (tables, cups, balls). Space: a few tables. Legal: it’s a drinking game — mind over-service and dram-shop exposure; consider water cups for play and selling drinks separately (Ch. 27/28). PR: a young-crowd bracket night; easy social content.

Bingo (traditional). What: classic numbers bingo for prizes. Start: low (cage, cards). Space: seated tables. Legal: prize bingo for money/merchandise is regulated — charitable bingo only, licensed via the Texas Lottery Commission; otherwise keep it free-to-play (Ch. 13). PR: reliable slow-night filler; community feel.

Bingo (chicken sh∗t). What: the famous Texas novelty — a chicken on a numbered grid; you win where it “goes.” Start: low. Space: a grid table/pen. Legal: animal-welfare and gaming structure — keep entry free or noncharitable-compliant (Ch. 10/13). PR: world-class novelty; the activity that made Little Longhorn internationally famous.

Bull riding (mechanical). What: a mechanical bull for rides/contests. Start: high (rent ~$500–$1,200/night, or buy used). Space: a padded ring with clearance. Legal: serious injury risk — signed waivers, trained operator, padded enclosure, and liquor-liability/GL insurance are non-negotiable (Ch. 16). PR: iconic, photogenic, a signature draw.

Bull riding (live) / rodeo tie-ins. What: real bull riding or rodeo partnerships/after-parties. Start: high; usually a partnership. Space: an arena or a connection to one. Legal: extensive — animal welfare, sanctioning bodies, waivers, insurance, a vet (Ch. 16). PR: deep Western authenticity and a built-in audience pipeline (Billy Bob’s model).

C

Cards / card nights. What: hosted casual card play or a recurring social. Start: near zero. Space: tables. Legal: no house cut and no betting you facilitate — keep it social/free-to-play, not gambling (Ch. 13). PR: low-cost regulars-builder.

Charity nights. What: a night where proceeds or a portion benefit a cause. Start: low. Space: any. Legal: if you run raffles/bingo to raise money, the charitable-gaming rules apply (Ch. 13/24). PR: enormous goodwill and press; community-pillar positioning.

College night. What: a weekly night aimed at the student crowd. Start: near zero. Space: any. Legal: never structure specials to push volume drinking; 21-and-up service discipline is critical with a young crowd (Ch. 17). PR: habit-building and word-of-mouth among a social demographic.

Cornhole (and cornhole leagues). What: bag-toss casual play or a season-long league. Start: low ($100–$250 a set). Space: two lanes (indoor or patio). PR: easy entry, league = recurring guaranteed crowd and standings content (Ch. 11/12).

D

Dance lessons (two-step). What: a recurring beginner two-step lesson before the band. Start: low (an instructor). Space: the dance floor. Legal: premises liability — instructor agreements and insurance (Ch. 14). PR: converts nervous newcomers into regulars; the engine of the current young-crowd revival.

Darts (steel-tip & electronic), and dart leagues. What: boards for casual play, tournaments, or league seasons. Start: low ($50–$600 per setup). Space: a throw lane with clearance. PR: classic bar-sport regulars; league = recurring crowd and rivalries (Ch. 11).

Dollar-bill ceiling. What: the tradition of signed dollar bills stapled/stuck overhead. Start: near zero. Space: ceiling/wall. Legal: fire-marshal limits on combustible coverage; possible tax/income questions on the cash — ask your fire marshal and CPA (Ch. 18). PR: a living scrapbook; deeply photogenic signature.

F

G

Goat ropings (and “goat-roping” theme nights). What: a real Western event or a tongue-in-cheek themed party. Start: varies. Space: an arena (real) or any (themed). Legal: animal welfare/insurance for the real thing (Ch. 16). PR: authentic Western flavor or playful only-in-Texas branding.

H

Happy hour (as identity). What: a signature daily window — owned as a brand, not just a discount. Start: near zero. Space: any. Legal: no happy hour past 11 p.m.; no prohibited specials (Ch. 17). PR: habit-building daypart and after-work draw.

I

Industry night. What: a night welcoming service-industry workers (often their off-night). Start: near zero. Space: any. Legal: standard specials rules (Ch. 17). PR: builds a loyal, influential regular base who tell everyone where to go.

J

Jukebox nights. What: leaning into a great jukebox as the night’s draw. Start: low–moderate. Space: any. Legal: the jukebox’s licensing is typically handled by the provider — confirm coverage (Ch. 28). PR: authentic honky-tonk texture; “best jukebox in town” claim.

K

Karaoke (classic, country, live-band/“rockaoke,” bilingual), and karaoke contests. What: host-run sing nights in many flavors, up to live-band backing or a contest series. Start: low (host/rig) to moderate (live band). Space: a small stage/mic area. Legal: karaoke needs licensed tracks ; performance licensing still applies (Ch. 15/28). PR: participatory, high-engagement, endlessly shareable; contests build multi-week stories.

L

Ladies’ night. What: a night aimed at drawing women out. Start: near zero. Space: any. Legal: gender-based pricing/admission is prohibited as discriminatory — build the night on programming (music, dance, guests), not on price-by-gender (Ch. 17). PR: strong draw if done lawfully via programming.

Live sports watch parties. What: big-game nights on the screens. Start: low–moderate (TVs, sports package). Space: viewing sightlines. Legal: commercial TV/sports licensing — use a business account (Ch. 16). PR: reliable crowd on game days; community gathering spot.

M

Meat raffles. What: the Upper-Midwest-born raffle for cuts of meat. Start: low. Space: any. Legal: raffles are restricted to qualified nonprofits in Texas — partner with one or use a free-to-play structure (Ch. 13). PR: quirky, fun, novel-in-Texas hook.

Mechanical bull (see Bull riding, mechanical). Cross-reference above.

Memorial barstool / regulars’ wall. What: a permanent tribute to a departed regular, or a wall of regulars’ photos. Start: near zero. Space: a stool or wall. PR: profound community bond and story; the heart of the “living scrapbook” (Ch. 18).

Music bingo (see Bingo, music). Cross-reference above.

Music-video / film shoots. What: hosting productions that use your venue as a location. Start: near zero (you get paid). Space: your room. Legal: a location agreement, insurance, and releases (Ch. 9). PR: massive earned exposure; list with the Texas Film Commission Location Library.

O

P

Pool / billiards, pool leagues & tournaments. What: tables for casual play, league seasons (APA/BCA), or bracket events. Start: moderate ($1,500–$3,000 a table). Space: a table with cue clearance. PR: a daily regulars-anchor; leagues guarantee weekly crowds and rivalries (Ch. 11).

Q

Quizzo / trivia (incl. Texas-themed). What: a hosted weekly trivia night (DIY or via an operator like Geeks Who Drink). Start: low. Space: seated tables. PR: a proven slow-night filler that builds rock-solid weekly habit; Texas-themed rounds add local flavor (Ch. 13).

R

Raffles (50/50, queen of hearts). What: progressive or split-the-pot draws. Start: low. Space: any. Legal: for qualified nonprofits only under the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act — a for-profit bar generally can’t run its own; partner with a charity (Ch. 13). PR: charitable goodwill and a building jackpot story.

S

Steak night / food-anchored nights. What: a signature recurring food night (steak, fish fry, taco night). Start: moderate (food). Space: kitchen/serving capacity. Legal: food permits/handling (Ch. 20). PR: a weekly destination habit; “you gotta be there Thursday” word of mouth (Ch. 17).

T

W

Washers (washer pitching) & washers leagues. What: the Texas backyard toss game, casual or league. Start: low ($50–$150 a set, or build them). Space: two boxes/lanes. PR: authentic Texas yard-game flavor; cheap league = recurring crowd (Ch. 12).