Volunteer: Bacon and Beer Festival, Merrimack

ORIENTATION: https://nhgranitestateambassadors.org/beer-and-bacon-festival-orientation

Sign ups are open: BONUS – If you bring a friend or family member to volunteer with you, you get their hours too!! Email kelly@nhgsa.com to sign them up.

Location: Anheuser-Busch Brewery — Outdoor Fields, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack NH

Date: September 11, 2021 – 1:00pm to 4:30pm (VIP Admission at 12:00pm & General Admission at 1:00pm). After Party 5-8pm Volunteer shifts start at 10:30am and run through 8pm. Shifts run from 2 hours – 4 hours each. You can sign up for more than one shift.

MANDATORY ORIENTATION: Via Zoom – Friday, September 10th 9:30am (sign up online). Attend the live Zoom or watch the recording.

For this event, we will be accepting non-GSA volunteers by referral. Ask us if you would like to invite family or friends to join you for your shift.

High Hopes Foundation is hosting the 5th annual Bacon & Beer Festival in Merrimack NH. By volunteering, you not only support the High Hopes Foundation, you will be helping us to earn a donation to sustain our own organization (NHGSA)!

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. https://www.nhbaconbeer.com/

** While we, as Granite State Ambassadors, can’t 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.

Volunteers will be parking for free by the stables, on the festival grounds. In fact, everyone will be parking on-site – there are no external lots with shuttles.

GSA Uniforms are required. GSA forest green shirt with khaki pants, shorts, capris or skirts. Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray recommended.

COVID Safety Protocols: As of June 9th, 2021, those who are fully vaccinated DO NOT need to wear a mask. Face coverings are strongly recommended for anyone who is not fully vaccinated.

SHIFT DUTIES / TIMES

Main Parking Lot Gate Attendant – ensuring guests have tickets in hand. The event is sold out. Shift times: 10:30am-2:45pm; 2:30-6:30pm; 6:15-8pm (2 people per shift working with a GSA staff person)

VIP Entrance by Biergarten – checking guests off list and giving them special credentials to VIP only area and early admission. Shift times: 10:30-1:30 (2 people); 1:15-4:30pm (1 person)

Ticket Box Office Window – Scan pre-paid tickets. Ticket booths will have shield protection. Shift times: noon-3 (4 people); 2:30-4:30pm (2 people)

Ticket Line Monitor – guide guests to next available ticket booth. Shift times: noon-3 (1 person); 2:30-4:30pm (1 person)

Water and Swag Tables – pass out water to each attendee and hand out pre-paid swag. Shift times: 1-3pm (2 people – 1 each table)

Ticket area Floater – will rotate through ticket booth, water and swag tables. Shift times: 1-3pm (2 people)

After party gate monitor – check tickets for entry. Shift Times: 4:30pm-7pm (2 people)

The event and the parking will all happen within the area that we usually have Ribfest. It will be broken up accordingly.

Parking Lot Guides at main entrance to fields – point guests to next available field for parking. Shift times: 10:30am-1pm (1 person); 1-3:30pm (1 person); 3:30-6pm (1 person); 6-8pm (1 person)

Parking Lot Guides at NorthEast lot – manage flow of cars to fill available field. Lots will be marked for parking. Shift times: 11:30am-1:30pm (1 person); 1:15-3pm (1 person)

Parking Lot Guides at SouthWest lot – manage flow of cars to fill available field. Lots will be marked for parking. Shift times: 11:30am-1:30pm (1 person); 1:15-3pm (1 person)

Floater for parking – give breaks to parking lot guides. Shift times: 11:30am-1:30pm (1 person); 1:15-3pm (1 person)

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL – HOW IT WORKS

This is the 5th year of NH Bacon & Beer Festival.

Recognizing that our COVID Protocols may take more time than usual, the overall event time has been extended 60 minutes from 2019’s festival.

VIP and General Admission ticket holders will be issued a printed Brewery Passport with (20) numbered slots to be used for a maximum (20) 3.5 oz pours. No individual beer and no additional tasting tickets will be sold onsite.

Local restaurants will share food samples that contain bacon, while they last. Some bacon samplers will sell larger servings after they have exhausted their free samples.

Event held rain or shine.

21+ Event — NO children or pets will be allowed into the event area.

NO backpacks or large bags will be allowed — only small purses or fanny packs, which may be subject to search.

NO outside alcohol or weapons of any kind may be brought in.

Music: This year’s event will feature an incredible array of musicians:

12:00-1:40 PM: 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

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 (www.thenewrockwells.com) – a blending of folk, classic rock and jazz whose feel-good music has an old-school vibe with a groovy modern twist.