Tickets On Sale Now: Hospice of Michigan’s Barley, BBQ & Beats Fundraiser Comes to Alpena This Fall

The not-for-profit’s signature fundraiser features the best food, drinks and music northern Michigan has to offer; proceeds support access to not-for-profit hospice

ALPENA, Mich. (Sept. 6, 2023) – The community is invited to attend Hospice of Michigan’s first-ever Barley, BBQ & Beats fundraising event in Alpena from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 at The Depot.

Barley, BBQ & Beats is the not-for-profit’s signature fundraising event featuring hand-crafted cocktails from local distilleries, mouth-watering barbecue courtesy of local pit masters and restaurants, and live musical performances – all to support access to not-for-profit hospice. The fundraiser has grown every year since its inaugural event in Grand Rapids in 2016, introducing more than 10,500 attendees to the not-for-profit hospice mission. Its popularity led Hospice of Michigan to bring this popular event to more communities across the state, including 2023 dates set for:

  • Ann Arbor – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 21 at The Valley
  • Traverse City – 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20 at Cathedral Barn
  • Alpena – 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 at The Depot

Tickets for all Barley, BBQ & Beats events are on sale now, and can be purchased for $50 in advance at hom.org/bbb-al or at the door of each event for $75. Ticket holders will be provided tokens at check-in valid for three servings of BBQ and three hand-crafted cocktails. Extra tokens will be available for purchase. Alternative samplings will be available if guests have sensitivities to barbecue foods.

All those who donate during the events will have the opportunity to double their generosity thanks to the Steve and Amy Van Andel Foundation. The “Make it a Double” Matching Gift will match all donations up to $250,000. Proceeds from Barley, BBQ & Beats support Hospice of Michigan’s Open Access Program, which helps ensure end-of-life care to all, regardless of age, diagnosis or financial circumstances.

“The Alpena community is going to love our signature Barley, BBQ & Beats fundraiser,” said Melissa McDonald-Reed, philanthropy manager for Hospice of Michigan. “Not only will we gather to enjoy the area’s best hand-crafted cocktails, delicious barbecue and great music, but together we will support Hospice of Michigan’s mission to make quality end-of-life care accessible for anyone who needs it.”

Barley, BBQ & Beats guests are encouraged to pay tribute to a deceased loved one by posting a photo or sharing a memory at the event.

Barley, BBQ & Beats is made possible thanks to Blue Moon Café, Detroit City Distillery, Fresh Palate, Grand Traverse Distillery, Iron Fish Distillery, Mountain Bar & Grill, Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe, Red Brick Tap And Barrel, Red Cedar Spirits, The Remedee, Thunder Bay Catering, Waylon Hanel, and generous local sponsors.

For tickets and more information, visit hom.org/bbb. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Melissa McDonald at mmcdonald@hom.org.

About Hospice of Michigan

A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the not-for-profit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 6,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.