I love a good festival — especially when it’s a new festival. And if it’s a new festival that benefits a good cause? It’s perfect.
The first Bourbon, Beer and Beef Festival, sponsored by Jim Beam, is Saturday at Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, Md. The festival will feature tastings of more than 40 bourbons and more than 60 beers.
But the spirits aren’t the only attraction: The festival will feature several “beef concession stands” where you can pick out and buy all of your favorites — barbecue pit beef, sirloin or ribs.
Once you’ve stuffed yourself with both beef and bourbon, stick around for the live music. The lineup features the Kelly Bell Band at 12:30 p.m., Sherri Mullen at 2:45 p.m. and the Freddie Long Band at 4 p.m.
Admission is just $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and includes unlimited tastings and a souvenir mug. Want to be a high roller? For $40, VIP admission will get you in the door two hours early (at noon), admission to a special tasting session and a Jim Beam goodie bag to take home with you. If bourbon isn’t your thing, designated driver tickets are $25 and include lunch and a bottle of water.
All of the proceeds from the event go to Operation Homefront, an organization that provides assistance and morale to American troops and their families.
The gates for general admission open at 2 p.m., and the entire event is under cover, so rain or shine, the festival is a go. For information or to buy tickets, call 800-830-3976 or visit jimbeamfest.com.
Closing this weekend: InSeries “Fall(en) Angels” at Atlas Performing Arts Center. The show is a song and dance collaboration with the Washington Ballet’s Studio Company and is directed by Septime Webre. Performances are set for 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $36, $33 for seniors and $18 for students. For tickets or information, call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.
Only this weekend: The 11th annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival gets under way at 11 a.m. Saturday. The show will feature roughly 180 artists all displaying their works. The festival also will have plenty of food vendors and live entertainment. This is a free, outdoor festival, and proceeds help benefit NIH Children’s Charities. For information, call 301-816-6958 or visit bethesdarowarts.org. Check out our preview of this event online at dcexaminer.com/entertainment.
Sports fans: The Capitals are at home at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. For tickets, visit capitals.nhl.com. And, if you’ve forgiven them for last Sunday, the Redskins play Cleveland at home at 4:15.
That’s comedy: Finally, comedian (and arguably the angriest man on television) Lewis Black returns to the Washington area Saturday night with a show at the Patriot Center at George Mason University. The show is at 8 p.m. Tickets, which will run you $30, are still available at ticketmaster.com.
