There are so many things I love about Gilmore Girls: the quaint, New England backdrop, the cozy feel of the show’s perpetual fall, and the many lovable, albeit neurotic, characters. But for me, mostly it’s “Luke’s”, the iconic small-town diner where all the locals go for the coffee and the gossip. While Nashville may not have Luke’s, it certainly has a number of charming coffee shops boasting oodles of small-town charm.
One of those coffee shops is Prickly Pear Coffee Co. This small-town coffee company started with a folding table and a dream. Fast forward to today, Prickly Pear has two coffee shops, two coffee campers, and a mobile coffee cart because coffee knows no boundaries!
The coffee company’s equal love of coffee, Jesus and Gilmore Girls inspired what is now an annual Nashville October tradition: the Gilmore Girls Coffee Crawl. Read on to discover how it works, participating coffee shops, fun challenges, prizes, and more!
“I can’t stop drinking the coffee. I stop drinking the coffee, I stop doing the standing and walking and the words-putting-into-sentence doing.” – Lorelai Gilmore
Your Guide to Nashville’s Gilmore Girls Coffee Crawl
What is a coffee crawl exactly? Kind of like a bar crawl only coffee focused! Inspired by the charm of Gilmore Girls, the Gilmore Girls Coffee Crawl invites you to spend October exploring Nashville’s local coffee shops one cup at a time. Visit participating cafés, complete Gilmore Girls-inspired challenges, collect stamps, and earn prizes, all while discovering new favorite coffee spots throughout the city! [via pricklypearcoffee.com]
When does the coffee crawl take place? The coffee crawl takes place throughout the entire month of October (1-31).
How do I participate in the coffee crawl? Simple! In order to participate you need your very own FREE coffee crawl Bingo card available for pick up at any Prickly Pear Coffee Co. location starting September 14.
I have my Bingo card. Now what? Now you play! Each card has a number of different challenges all inspired by different Gilmore Girls characters (Lorelai, Sookie, Rory, Luke, etc.) that can be completed at any participating coffee shop throughout the month of October. Once you complete a challenge, ask any barista at the coffee shop to stamp your card.
Which coffee shops are participating? There are over 20 local Nashville coffee shops participating on this year’s coffee crawl including Crieve Hall Bagel Co., Frothy Monkey, Perenn, Stay Golden, and more. A complete list can be found at Prickly Pear Coffee Co. on the Coffee Crawl FAQ page.
What kind of challenges will I be required to complete? All of the challenges are light-hearted and none require tons of time, money, or travel (or your pride). Examples from the 2025 challenge include trying a special menu item or listening to the Gilmore Girls theme song on the way to your next coffee shop. Expect similar challenges on this year’s crawl.
How do I earn prizes? In order to be eligible to receive a prize, you must return your completed Bingo card by October 31 at any Prickly Pear Coffee Co. location to be entered to win. Be sure your name and phone number are on the card. Winners will be contacted the first week of November. *You must fill all five squares in a character column to be entered into that character’s prize drawing.
So, how exactly do I win? Step 1: Complete any one character column to be entered to win that character’s prize package. Step 2: Complete the full board (Blackout) to become an Honorary Resident of Stars Hollow and be entered to win the Grand Prize!
What kind of prizes can I expect to receive if I win? While we don’t know exactly what prizes will be awarded this year, expect Gilmore Girls themed paraphernalia. *There will only be 6 winners total: Lorelai, Rory, Luke, Sookie, Stars Hollow, and Grand Prize (Blackout).
Make it your own! While you might not live in Stars Hollow or get to annoy Luke in person, you can certainly add extra flavor to make the coffee crawl your own. Dress up like your favorite character. Create a Gilmore Girls playlist and play as you crawl to your next coffee spot. Get your girlfriends together and show your Gilmore Girls pride with specially made t-shirts. As any true fan would tell you…
“It’s a show?” “It’s a lifestyle. It’s a religion.” – Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
