By Sara Beth Williams–
The City Council approved a $7,000 grant to the Sunrise MarketPlace on Wednesday, which will go toward sponsoring a new Backyard Bash event set to take place at the Sunrise Mall later this spring.
The Backyard Bash will replace the annual Brews in the Burbs event, Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter confirmed.
According to Carpenter, the event will be very similar to past Brews in the Burbs events but with a greater focus on live music performances and more backyard games rather than brew tasting.
The four-hour event is scheduled for Saturday, May 31, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and is open to those 21 and older. The event will feature a beer and wine garden, along with two live bands: Aeromyth, an Aerosmith tribute band, and Apple Z. Planned games and activities include cornhole, various other lawn games, giant Battleship, an 8-hole mini golf course, inflatable axe throwing, and an escape room according to the business district’s website. Food trucks will also be on-site for the event.
As for the shift away from breweries and tastings, Carpenter said that when the event began in 2019, breweries were able to donate their products. However, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Carpenter said the event “lost momentum,” and breweries were no longer able to provide alcohol donations. This required the Sunrise MarketPlace to purchase alcohol in advance.
Despite this effort, Sunrise MarketPlace Marketing and Special Projects Manager Lisa Cordell said staffing challenges persisted. Cordell also noted that many attendees had voiced concerns about the high ticket prices at past Brews in the Burbs events.
The new Backyard Bash will offer a “more affordable” option for those looking to enjoy the atmosphere without drinking, Cordell said.
“Tickets will be roughly half the cost of Brews tickets, allowing us to welcome many more attendees,” Cordell said, adding that the beer and wine garden will still feature a variety of premium options.
For those seeking a VIP experience similar to what Brews in the Burbs offered, the Backyard Bash event will include a VIP space with a catered meal, premium beverages, and upgraded restroom facilities, Cordell said.
Sunrise MarketPlace initially requested $25,000 in grant funding, but the city chose to award $7,000. The city has in the past also sponsored Brews in the Burbs at a cost of $4,900, according to the staff report.
All ticket purchases will support the Citrus Heights Rotary and the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART). For ticket information, visit the Backyard Bash event page on the Sunrise MarketPlace website.
The City Council approved a $7,000 grant to the Sunrise MarketPlace, which will go toward a new Backyard Bash...
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