ORIENTATION RECORDING:
Access Passcode: NHGSA-1996
THE INFORMATION BELOW SUPERSEDES THE ABOVE VIDEO. Download and printable version.
Granite State Ambassador
Beer & Bacon Festival – September 11, 2021
Anheuser-Busch Brewery – 221 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack NH
ORIENTATION DOCUMENT
High Hopes Foundation is excited to announce that the 5th annual Bacon & Beer Festival will return in Merrimack NH. For more than 35 years, High Hopes Foundation has provided life-enhancing experiences to New Hampshire’s chronically ill children; our needs this year will be even greater in light of COVID-19’s impact on families. Bacon & Beer is our primary fundraiser, celebrating greasy, fatty, savory bacon alongside the endless possibilities of well-crafted brews.
2,000 attendees, 35 brewers, 18 bacon samples, and new food and service vendors and Biergarten Afterparty.
ID FOR ENTRY
MUST BE BORN ON OR AFTER
SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
Everyone MUST be 21+ and have their ID to enter. NO BABIES OR TODDLERS.
If there are any issues, send them to the ticket box office to see Jeremy or Joe.
CONTACTS:
Kelly: 603-960-0272 | Emily: 603-244-0757
Festival Manager is Jeremy Garrett: 802-272-5113 if you can’t reach Kelly or Emily for something urgent.
Medical Emergency: call 911
Uniform: GSA uniform – shorts okay. NO bags or packs please. You will have access to your car. Only small cross-body bags or waist packs allowed. Wear sneakers.
NOTE: There are High Hopes Foundation volunteers in addition to GSA volunteers. They will have a designated t-shirt and will be checking in at the Ticket Box Office too. THEIR volunteers do have access to the event grounds. NHGSA is receiving a generous donation for our programs so we do not have access the actual event. Keep in mind that event tickets are $60/pp in advance and $70 at the gate, not the usual $10 admissions that we get to attend.
** While we, as Granite State Ambassadors, can NOT actually ‘attend’ the event to sample bacon dishes and drink beer, we CAN listen in to some great music and enjoy the festival atmosphere. In lieu of attending the event, GSA volunteers ARE invited to attend the afterparty ($10 value) from 5-8pm. We will have water and boxed lunches available for GSA volunteers. You are also invited to attend the October 17th country concert in the same location at no cost.
GSA Volunteer Park: GSAs will be parking in the small lot across from the stables. To get there, come in main road, drive through the cement lot and down the driveway straight ahead at the end. Small 25 space lot on your right at the end.
When you arrive: check in with Kelly or Emily at the Ticket Box Office – up the road to park in the fields by general admission gate.
COVID PROTOCOLS
Vaccinated are not required to wear masks. GSA will have PPE, masks, face shields, gloves etc available for your use.
SUPPLIES
GSA has sandwiches, water and snacks available for you at the ticket box office in a cooler. There are buckets with sunscreen, PPE, snacks around the grounds for you (or at the ticket box office).
EVENT Schedule
- 7:00am-11:00am Event Set-up
- 10:00am Health Inspections Begin for Food Vendors
- 11:00am ALL VEHICLES MUST BE OUT OF THE EVENT SPACE!!
- 11:30am Brewer Meeting (Biergarten Stage)
- 12:00pm-4:30pm FESTIVAL HOURS
- VIP 12-1pm | General Admission 1-4:30pm
- 4:30pm-10:00pm AFTERPARTY Hours OR Breakdown
PARKING – going for efficiency
Main gate attendants – Ask if they have VIP or General Admission. Advise them where their entrance to the event is. Remind them that they will need to see their tickets and IDs at the entry gates.
Then ask guests to park as designated below – follow the parking attendants for guidance. Parking attendants are NOT checking tickets or parking passes. Parking on-site is free with their ticket.
When the gates open, parking will begin on the cement spaces. VIP will arrive first and will have first shot at cement spots. Direct guests to the far end of the cement lot to park. NOTE TRAFFIC PATTERN – it’s one way. When the parking reaches the main gate at the bottom of the big hill (in front of Biergarten) start sending them to the fields to park. If a VIP arrives after the cement is full, they go to the field.
We have a GSA at the intersection of the cement and the road out to the fields to point them up the driveway to the fields. Field parking attendants will just be pointing to the available lots. Lots are marked with spaces. You don’t need to put them in designated spaces, just point to the open lot. Fill one lot first, then the other.
Handicap parking will be on the cement near where you turn to head up to the field.
Uber and ride shares can drive in to pick people up.
Vendors will be parked on the grass between the cement parking lot and the stables parking lot.
TICKETS – must have Ticket AND be 21+ with valid ID.
There are two entrances to the event. The VIP Entrance by the Biergarten (get gold passport) and the General Admission (blue and white passports), up the road that leads to the fields.
Ticket holders can get in the respective admission line – not ticket box office line. You walk down the line FIRST PERSON is checking their IDs and SECOND PERSON is checking their phone digital tickets– they tap it and you verify what type of ticket they purchased.
We had originally had a line monitor and ticket booth GSAs. This will be a little different. Be prepared to be on your feet. If you need to be sitting and have the box office, please let us know ahead of time!
ID: MUST BE BORN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11, 2000.
Yes, EVERYONE gets carted. If there is an issue, send them to the Ticket Box Office to see Jeremy or Joe. Babies and Toddlers not allowed entry.
Give them the appropriate BEER PASSPORT.
- VIP TICKETS GET GOLD PASSPORT
GENERAL ADMISSION WITH AFTER PARTY GET BLUE PASSPORT
GENERAL ADMISSION GET WHITE PASSPORT
DESIGNATED DRIVER TICKET GETS NO PASSPORT
If they need to purchase a ticket or can’t do the phone ‘tap’ send them to the box office window.
No wristbands – not using them this year.
NO RE-ENTRY. Guests cannot leave the event, go to their cars and get back in the event.
NO REFUNDS.
Event is rain or shine.
Guests can bring in chair and blanket. NO coolers, outside food, back packs, weapons, alcohol…
coolers/food must be medically necessary (need proof)
Guests will pick up their water and any pre-paid swag. I think these will be just inside the gate.
AFTER PARTY MONITOR – by Biergarten gate.
Check that they have VIP or GENERAL ADMISSION with AFTER PARTY tickets. They can purchase an After Party ticket for $10 at the box office or with you.
VIP HAS ITS PERKS – VIP TICKET HOLDERS CAN:
- Advanced entry to the event
- First shot at cement parking lot
- Use Biergarten bathrooms and the field house bathrooms.
- After Party
LIVE MUSIC
12:00-1:40 PM: Grayson Ty & Laura Buchanan
Grayson Ty and Laura Buchanan’s latest single “No Mistake” is a wistful melody that brings out the pair’s significant talents. Stick around for original songs and cover versions that highlight R&B crooning and folk-inspired storytelling to masterful pop riffs and earnest lyrics.
2:20-4:20 PM: American Idol Alex Preston
When he took 3rd place on the 2014 season of American Idol, local New Hampshire artist Alex Preston captivated the world with his musical style, which always come from the heart. Alex has performed all over the United States and Canada perfecting his craft and working with some of the top names in music. Prepare for a variety of songs that will have you dancing one moment and captivated the next wanting to hear every word and note.
5:00-8:00 PM: Biergarten Afterparty ($10 entry fee at gate)
The party doesn’t have to end once the Festival is over! Join the Biergarten Afterparty from 5-8pm, where they’ll be serving full pours of your Anheuser-Busch favorites. Some of our food vendors will stick around so you can order a late-night snack. And check out the sounds of independent artists The New Rockwells – a blending of folk, classic rock and jazz whose feel-good music has an old-school vibe with a groovy modern twist. $10 ENTRY FEE (FREE for VIPs; $5 addition to online General Admission ticket)
