We are proud to partner with local, state and regional organizations to host a Great Lakes Gala in the Bell’s Beer Garden next month, Sept. 14, at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo.
Everyone is invited to join us from 1-4 p.m. to learn about the Great Lakes and how to protect them. Admission is free, but there will be a suggested donation of $10. We will match what is donated up to $2,500.
Money raised will go to Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Michigan Environmental Council.
The speakers for the afternoon will be:
- Sarah Reding, Vice President of Conservation Stewardship, Kalamazoo Nature Center
- Jack Schmitt, Deputy Director, Michigan League of Conservation Voters
- James Clift, Policy Director, Michigan Environmental Council
- Joel Brammeier, President & CEO, Alliance for the Great Lakes
They will talk about how their organization works to protect and restore the Great Lakes as well as Michigan’s other exceptional water resources.
Kalamazoo’s own Great Lakes Grass will perform traditional bluegrass throughout the afternoon and beer specials along with a raffle are planned as well.
“There are quite a few people working to protect, inform and educate the public about this valuable resource and we want our community to come out and meet them,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery.
“The Great Lakes, this region, has always been important to me and we need to work together to invest in them now and make sure they are protected for future generations,” he said.
The Gala will cap a week-long 29th anniversary celebration for the brewery that will also include a movie in the Bell’s Beer Garden, a performance by Leftover Salmon at the Eccentric Cafe, the annual Bell’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, this year’s Homebrew Competition kick-off & Expo and more.
Additional details for those events is also coming soon.
Caption: Great Lakes Grass performs during the 10th Annual Bell's Beer Garden Opener. Photo by Eric K. Fischer.