ASHLAND – Take some live music, add in samples from three North Central Ohio breweries and top it off with everyone’s favorite cured pork product, and what do you get? The Pump House Catering’s Bands, Brews and Bacon event this Saturday night.
“We hear all the time about people living in Ashland going to nearby towns for entertainment. This is our first event to show this community that exciting things are happening right here in downtown,” Pump House Catering Event Coordinator Marylou Wilkinson said. “We thought this would be a fun thing for Ashland.”
Everyone who attends Saturday’s event, which runs from 8 p.m. to midnight, will receive six brewing sampling and three bacon snack tickets. The first 130 attendees will receive a complimentary sampling glass. A full open cash bar will be available.
Tickets are available now through Eventbrite for $20 and will be available at the door for $25.
Three North Central Ohio bands will be performing throughout the evening. Wooster-based southern rockers Whiskey Bound, country/pop band Tom’s Kitchen Table from Ashland and country cover band Horseplay will entertain the crowd.
Representatives from Phoenix Brewery of Mansfield and Lager Heads Brewery from Medina will be at the event and featuring their products. Wilkinson also purchased some brews from JAFB from Wooster which will be available at the event.
“We really wanted to stay local and invite breweries that are close to Ashland,” Wilkinson said.
Besides the music and beer, the event will feature delicious bacon bar snacks created by Pump House Catering.
“Bacon is delicious. I’m a real advocate for bacon,” Wilkinson said with a laugh.
Wilkinson said several years ago her son and several of his high school friends had “bacon nights” where they would make “bacon everything,” including weaving bacon into a basket and candied bacon. Her memories of those nights helped inspire Bands, Brews and Bacon.
In addition, a 50/50 drawing will take place during the event, with the funds raised benefitting an Ashland family struggling with medical expenses. Genise Sanders was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this year and has undergone chemotherapy and radiation, but will need extensive surgery next month.
Wilkinson said Michael Kruman of Tom’s Kitchen Table brought the need to her attention and they were happy to be able to help.
“We really do have a heart for this community,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson said she is looking to plan more events in the months when the Pump House isn’t already doing one of its traditional holiday events, like its Thanksgiving buffet planned for next week.
“We’re really trying to find what a good niche would be here in Ashland,” she said.
