Chicken Sht Bingo Is Really A Thing And Here's Why

One of Austin’s best-kept secrets is The Little Longhorn Saloon, previously known as Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon. For over 40 years, this tiny dive bar has hosted some of Austin’s best live music, featuring honky-tonk country, folk, rockabilly, and good ol’ rock and roll. More than 10 bands play the venue per week, with over 600 bands in a year, and on Sundays, the bar hosts one of Austin’s weirdest weekly events: Chicken Shit Bingo.

History of the game

Chicken Shit Bingo started when a local musician approached the bar’s previous owners, Don and Ginny, with an idea he brought back from California. There, he had seen cow shit bingo, but he suggested using chickens instead. Ginny’s famous response was: “It’s never gonna last.” Today, the 25-year tradition would suggest otherwise.

The current owner, Terry Gaona, was keen to carry on the custom: “Chicken Shit Bingo is part of the nostalgia and history of the bar. We kept all the old traditions, plus added a few of our own.” The bar now serves a large assortment of wines and champagnes, plus 80 different types of beer other than drafts. And in keeping with the times, the saloon now accepts credit cards—not just cash.

Terry’s favorite part of the game is the excitement of the crowd, especially the children: “Chicken Shit Bingo is about the camaraderie and the fun—we’re all just one big, happy family.”

How the game works

Between 4 pm and 8 pm, locals gather for a unique version of bingo involving chickens, chicken feed, and what chickens do after they eat. All ages are welcome to both watch and participate in this event, which you have to see to believe. For a donation of $2.00, participants purchase a ticket in line: children 13 and younger go first, and adults aged 92 and older go second.

Once all the tickets are gone, the first of four rounds begins. Each ticket corresponds to a number on the table, and if the chicken eliminates on your ticket’s number, you win a cash prize. The Chicken Shit Official tells the band the winning number, and they, in turn, announce it on stage. Winners have their photos taken, and the next round begins!

A valid I.D. is required to purchase alcohol, and you must be 21+ to drink. Sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages are also available. To really experience the dive bar like a local, pull up a bar stool and enjoy an ice-cold Lone Star beer while you watch or play along!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.