By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Tickets are now on sale for the ninth annual Downtown Hays Development Corp.’s Wines and Steins, which will be Friday, Sept. 7.
Only 300 tickets will be sold for the event and more than 100 have already been sold. Tickets are $50 each. You must be 21 years old or older to attend. Participants must check in and show ID. Each attendee will receive a commemorative Wines and Steins glass.
The event will feature hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine at downtown business. The event will be 6 to 11 p.m. with alcohol and food served from 6 to 9 p.m. at 15 downtown stops and an after party from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Fox Pavilion to include a silent and live auction.
Six locations will be premier stops and will feature selections from a specific brewery or vineyard.
“You are actually able to visit with the vineyards or visit with the brewers about the process and what you are drinking and why they choose it and maybe why the food is paired with it,” said Sara Bloom, DHDC director, “so it is more of a prestigious stop that you get to interact with the people who actually created the drinks that you are drinking.”
This year’s theme is Jazzin’ on the Bricks. The Brad Dawson Ensemble will be featured at the Fox. DHDC is still looking for a saxophone players to walk up and down Main and play during the event.
There will be a raffle this year. The prize is a gift card basket worth more than $400.
“This is an event that is looked forward to every year,” Bloom said. “We do sell out of tickets very quickly, and we are excited to feature new wineries and breweries as we can and to have a another wonderful year.
“We want to thank all of our sponsors whether they donated monetarily or in kind or with auction items. We really couldn’t do this without the support of the community. This is our second biggest fundraiser. Since we only have two (Brews on the Bricks is our biggest), it is vital to our organization’s continued operation, and we appreciate our community’s support as well as our sponsors’ support.”
Tickets can be purchased online on the DHDC website. You can also buy tickets in person at the new DHDC office on the first floor of the Chestnut Building, 1200 Main St.
Main Street will be closed for the event. The city will start placing cones to block downtown parking about noon. Streets will close to through traffic about 4 p.m.