Who doesn’t like BACON?
The aroma, the taste, the crunch, especially when followed by an ice cold craft beer. Well, the third annual Aiken’s Bacon and Brews Festival!
The Aiken Kiwanis Club organizes this event, scheduled on Newberry Street in downtown Aiken for all you bacon and beer lovers, your palates will be satiated on March 14 during from 5 – 10 pm. It is the major fundraiser for Kiwanis children’s programs in our area.
This year, seven food vendors will have mouthwatering offerings such as:
- Bacon Crumbled Roasted Corn, Bacon Mac and Cheese Dogs
- Bacon Shrimp Po’Boys, Bacon Deviled Eggs, Bacon Pretzels and Nachos
- Maple Bacon Sundaes, Bacon and Steak Wraps, Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- Bacon Dog on a Stick, Pork Belly Burgers with Smoked Mozzarella and Bacon, Bacon and Brie with Maple Pecan Jam on Belgium Waffles
- And much more!
As you let these bacon entrees sink into your consciousness, consider the potential beer offerings: Jekyll’s Pineapple Habanero, New Belgium’s1554 and Fat Tire, Wicked Weed’s Lunatic Belgian Blonde and Pernicious IPA, Hi Wire’s Hi-Pitch IPA, Savannah River’s No Jacket Required, or Red Hare’s 50/50 Tangerine, to name just a few. (Beer choices are based on availability at the time of the event.)
For all of you who prefer wine over beer, choices of red, white, and rosé wines are available. This year we are adding coffee with Irish cream and hot chocolate for your enjoyment. There truly is something for everyone.
Did someone say entertainment?
Nothing but the best for our Aiken community and the crowd of 3000+ who enjoy this evening!
The event will start with music provided by Caleb Aiken, a local singer and songwriter who has performed in the Alley.
Back by popular demand, Tokyo Joe, based out of Columbia, South Carolina, has been a crowd favorite. Tokyo Joe was formed in 1996, has released 6 CDs, and performs an average of 200 shows per year in the Southeast.
This year the event time is extended from 5 to 10 pm to give parents and guardians an opportunity to bring children to enjoy face painting, corn hole, bubbles, and more.
There will once again be “Irish Zumba” during one of the band breaks. Last year many attendees joined in the for the Zumba workout and had a great time. So don’t miss this opportunity to join the fun.
This event is the major fund raising effort for Kiwanis of Aiken. The funds raised help us support our school programs such as K-Kids in the elementary schools, Builders Club in middle schools, Key Clubs in both high schools, and Circle K at USC Aiken. These programs train leaders for tomorrow by building self-confidence and speaking skills and by developing a sense of pride and comradery.
The relationships developed through the family of Kiwanis programs are usually long lasting, and they propel many of these youngsters into careers in both business and the political world. One of the newest programs is at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School. We recently started a Readers Program to help develop reading skills for youngsters struggling with reading development. This included purchasing books for the program and having members volunteer as mentors. Kiwanis also participates with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Aiken and the local food bank.
Service is our biggest contribution to the local community, and your support of our event is paramount to the continuation of all of our programs and endeavors. This is the third year for Aikens Bacon and Brews, which started simply as a discussion by several Aiken Kiwanis members at a district convention. The words “bacon” and “Aiken” just seemed to have a natural fit, and the combination sparked the energy to start this amazing event that has been enjoyed by all.
Kiwanis is an international service organization of volunteers whose motto is “Serving the Children of the World.” As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis, we in the Aiken Kiwanis Chapter remain dedicated to “improving the lives of children, one child, one community at a time” and training tomorrow’s leaders today. Our event could not be successful without your support and that of our generous sponsors: Coward McNeill, Bridgestone, Bechtel Industries, Dumpster Depot, State Farm Insurance, USC Aiken, Aiken Standard, Southside Galleries, Embroider This, Meybohm Realtors, Atlantic Broadband, and the City of Aiken.
We hope you will have a chance to join us on March 14 at the Newberry Street festival area starting at 5 pm. For more information, please visit our Facebook page at Facebook.com/AikensBaconAndBrews.
