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Where can you play trivia in York County?


Here's a look at some of the bars and restaurants that host trivia nights in the area.

Elijah Cross has been “obsessed” with game shows since he was a kid. So much, in fact, that his first words were: “Come on down, you're the next contestant on ‘The Price is Right.’"

When Cross, 34, moved to York, he found himself playing trivia downtown at Holy Hound Taproom. He thought about becoming a host — but decided to come up with his own game instead.

"And then I hit upon this idea,” Cross said. “What if you could win a trivia game by being wrong the entire time?”

The result: Zero Hour Trivia, a game in which the answer to every question is a number — and teams get some credit as long as they don’t go over.  Zero Hour Trivia is now offered at two places in York County, and Cross said he’s looking to expand into Hanover and Lancaster.

Here’s a look at some of the places in York County that have trivia nights:

Zero Hour Trivia(Mudhook Brewing Co.,Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse)

In Zero Hour Trivia, Cross asks 20 questions.

Some involve a little math. So, for example, adding the age of a musician to how many studio albums he or she has released.

“You can take a guess at anything, and have a chance of getting points on every question,” said Jeff Lau, the co-owner of Mudhook Brewing Co. in York, which hosts Zero Hour Trivia on Tuesday nights. “I think that makes it really cool."

At the end of each night, the top team at Mudhook Brewing Co. wins $25 in credit. Meanwhile, the winner at Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse gets $20 that can be used at the restaurant.

After eight weeks, approximately 10 teams from each location face-off in a championship game, for the chance to win $1,000. The next season starts on Feb. 28.

Nate Wolfe, the assistant manager at Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse, which started hosting the game in January on Thursday nights, said he thinks trivia has been catching on — and the restaurant is starting to see repeat business. Cross, he said, plays off the crowd, and is charismatic.

"It's just really neat,” Wolfe said. “A lot of people seem to really enjoy it."

Showtime Trivia: (Holy Hound Taproom, Sherwood Inn, Altland House)

When Brian Garrahy, the owner of Showtime Trivia, visited Holy Hound Taproom in York several years ago, he wasn’t sure how the location would do.

The bar had an “odd” shape. And, at the time, it mostly served alcohol.

But Holy Hound Taproom, he said, has grown into one of the biggest shows that Showtime Trivia puts on. Showtime Trivia is now offered at 40 locations in five states:  Pennsylvania; Maryland; Delaware; Virginia; and Texas.

Each game is 20 questions. Ones about pop culture, Garrahy said, are the company’s “bread and butter.” The top team each night typically wins $25 in credit.

Showtime Trivia also has seasons, which usually last 10 weeks. At the end, playoff games are held — and the winners go on to compete for a $1,000 prize.

Garrahy said “everybody knows trivia,” and that the game is very accessible. Some teams will even pick members who have a lot of knowledge in certain areas, including television, film and geography.

“The social aspect is huge — and the competition. Those two components right there,” he said. “That’s what keeps people coming out.”

Places in York County or nearby that offer trivia:

  • Sherwood Inn (305 N. Main St., New Salem), 7 p.m. Monday.
  • Mudhook Brewing Co. (34 N. Cherry Lane, York), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Tourist Inn (671 W. Market St., Hellam Township), 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.
  • Holy Hound Taproom (57 W. Market St., York), 8 p.m. Wednesday.
  • Arooga’s Grill House & Sports Bar (1211 Haines Road, Springettsbury Township), 6 p.m. Thursday.
  • Altland House (10 W. King St., Abbottstown), 6:30 p.m. Thursday
  • Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse (2440 E. Market St., Springettsbury Township), 7:30 p.m. Thursday.