Boots, Barrels, and Brews returns to Pickering Barn for Kiwanis fundraiser March 29

The 6th annual Boots, Barrels and Brews Kiwanis fundraiser is coming back to Issaquah on March 29.

By Evan Pappas • March 6, 2019 5:30 am

The sixth annual Boots, Barrels and Brews Kiwanis fundraiser is coming back to Issaquah on March 29.

Held at Issaquah’s Pickering Barn, the annual event invites community members to celebrate with live music, dancing, food and drinks, all sourced from local sponsors.

Tori Gaines, Kiwanis Club of Issaquah’s events chair, said the money raised during the event goes to the the youth foundations around the city such as Friends of Youth, Eastside Baby Corner and high school Key Clubs. There are more than 30 organizations that receive funding from the Issaquah Kiwanis Club.

This year, the country-rock band 80 Proof Ale will be performing throughout the night. The Whiskey Girls also will be teaching line dancing during the event.

In addition to live music, Pickering Barn also will have beer, spirits and wine tasting. Gaines said the event will feature about 12 or 13 vendors, and will have a tax free shop in the barn as well.

Several businesses have donated food for the event including Fischer Meats, BardsleyQue and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

While Boots, Barrels and Brews is in its sixth year, the Kiwanis Club has been hosting fundraising events for much longer. According to Gaines, they had held an auction for 29 years as their annual fundraiser. At that point, people were ready for a change.

Gaines and the Kiwanis Club began work to create a new event that would be more focused on community fun, while also being easier to manage. The switch from an auction to a community party helped to widen the demographic of the event as well and the Kiwanis Club has seen increasing attendance numbers every year.

“It started at about 200 (people),” she said. “Now last year we almost filled the barn with about 400.”

In terms of fundraising, the 2018 Boots, Barrels and Brews event raised nearly $20,000 for youth organizations. This year, before ticket sales are even included, the amount raised for the 2019 event is already at $21,500.

“It’s a great place to volunteer and hear good music, eat some good food and we are always looking for more volunteers,” Gaines said.

For more information and online ticket sales for the 2019 Boots, Barrels and Brews, go online to www.bootsbarrelsandbrews.com. Tickets are $45 per person before March 28. After March 28 tickets are sold at the door for $55 per person.