Summer may be approaching its end. The warm, sunny days may be getting shorter. Kids may be gearing up for school. But don’t let that get you down! Summer isn’t over until it’s over and the best way to say farewell is still on its way. The Brats, Brews and Bands Festival is back and better than ever!
This year’s event is scheduled for September 8, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at The Hub at Lacey. Anyone 21 and older is invited to attend. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Brats, Brews and Bands website or the day of at the front gates for only $10.
Event organizers, Gateway Rotary, have a series of questions they ask themselves before embarking on any philanthropic mission. Possibly the most important one being, ‘Is it fun?’ Anyone who has attended Brats, Brews and Bands in the past knows the answer is a resounding YES, YES, YES!
“As always, the theme of Gateway Rotary is FUN and that is precisely what people can expect to find on September 8 at the Hub in Lacey,” shared Len Faucher, who serves as Gateway Rotary’s current President Elect and lead planner for Brats, Brews and Bands 2018.
This year, Len and his team have focused on bringing back crowd favorites, like a widespread offering of beers, while also adding in some new things to look forward to, like more bands, Washington wines and a broader selection of ciders. For Gateway Rotary, it’s all about finding new ways to have a great time.
“Guests can enter into a competition to win an autographed football, play games of corn hole and just relax with friends,” Len said. “Between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., guests will be completely immersed in music played by our best local bands. This year’s line-up will include a mix of rock, country and modern music. Brats, Brews and Bands 2018 features the addition of a third, smaller stage for solo shows. We’ll be serving porters, lagers, pilsners and of course IPA’s. And when you get hungry, Ricardo’s will be ready with the finest brat selections, pulled pork sandwiches, gourmet popcorn and creative salads.”
Here are just some of the essentials you can look forward to relishing at this year’s festival:
Top-Notch Beverages
- Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale
- Leavenworth Biers’ Whistling Pig Hefeweizen
- Dick Danger Ale by Dick’s Brewing Company
- Quilter’s Irish Death by Iron Horse Brewery
For a complete list of featured brews click here.
Mouth-Watering Sustenance
Provided by Ricardo’s at the Hub
- The Ricardo – a grilled hot dog on a fresh roll topped with caramelized onions and Rickey’s whipped cream cheese
- The Terminator Brat – a grilled brat on a pretzel bun topped with cheddar cheese, sourless kraut and grilled onions
- Pulled Pork Caesar Salad
- Yummy Sides – fancy baked beans, German pretzels and gourmet popcorn
For a comprehensive menu, click here.
Musicians that Will Move You
- Daze Pazt – classic rock, country, alternative
- The Wanderin’ Kind – rock and roll
- Cody Raymond – neo soul, funk pop
- Exit 88 – classic, modern rock
For a complete list of booked musicians click here.
At Brats, Brews and Bands you’re always guaranteed an array of savory eats, a line-up of great performances and an assortment of the highest quality craft beers. But did you also know that your attendance and contributions to the event also support the greater community? Each year, Gateway Rotary passes on the event’s proceeds to local charitable organizations. Past recipients have included The Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County, Homeless Backpacks and Rebuilding Together Thurston County.
This year’s Brats, Brews and Bands Festival also marks the six-year anniversary of its organizer, Gateway Rotary. Gateway Rotary Club is one of the fastest growing clubs in Thurston County and is open to any who want to join. Everything they do is geared toward honoring their mission to bring businesses and professional leaders together to build goodwill, promote peace, encourage high ethical standards and provide humanitarian services. In other words, they work to make our community and world better tomorrow than it is today. It doesn’t get much more gratifying than that.
“Brats, Brews and Bands is the premier end of summer event,” Len said. “What makes this event so fun for us, is watching our key community leaders participating in the day’s events, cooking brats, taking tickets, even pouring beer. There are even elected officials to spot among the club in their BBB shirts and BBB aprons. The event continues to grow, along with the amount we are able to give back to the community thanks to you, our fans, and our many corporate and personal sponsors. We really want to encourage everyone to spread the word, follow us on our Facebook page, like our event, support the businesses that have made Brats, Brews and Bands possible and bring all your friends because when you attend, the community benefits in a really big way.”
September 8 is just around the corner! Find out more and purchases tickets for this year’s event by visiting the Brats, Brews and Bands website today.
