News File Photo Rotary Club of Alpena member Ann Diamond, left, pours drinks during the 2023 Brew on the Bay Craft Beer and Wine Festival at the APlex in Alpena. The event returns March 7.

ALPENA — Tickets for the annual Alpena Rotary Club Brew on the Bay Craft Beer and Wine Festival are on sale now and going fast.

The event, which happens from 6 to 10 p.m. March 7, features craft beer, cider, and wine from around the state.

Live, silent, and chance auctions will be held during the event, with proceeds going toward a planned expansion of the splash park at Starlite Beach in Alpena.

Rotary and other partners spearheaded the effort to raise funds to have the current splash park constructed. It opened in 2018.

Now, Rotary wants to make the park bigger and add new features that cater to toddlers and small children.

The money can also be used for other Rotary Club initiatives.

It took a couple years for Rotary and its partners to raise the money for the splash park, and Alpena secured a large grant from the state government to help renovate Starlite Beach. The projects were done in tandem.

The Rotary Club’s Jackie Krawczak said Rotary knew the splash park would likely be a hit with kids, but its use has surpassed the club’s highest expectations.

“We knew it would be popular, but it has really been awesome,” Krawczak said. “It’s great to see the people using it on a warm summer day, but people are also using it when it is cooler summer days.”

Krawczak said tickets for the event are $25 each and grant access to the festival, six beverage samples, and a souvenir glass. She said there will also be food vendors on hand for those who want to grab a bite to eat.

Additional drink tickets will be available for those who want to sample more than the six free drinks.

“It’s a lot of fun, and everyone that goes says they had a great time,” she said.

Last year, Rotary included an online element to its auction, but it has decided to return to the former format for the silent auction, in which bidders write bids on a list. Krawczak said that, although the online auction was easier for Rotary, attendees last year expressed concerns and wishes to return to the more traditional method.

During the event, John Stender will be the emcee and also the auctioneer for the live auction. Krawczak said there are a great many items, services, and experiences people can bid on and likely something that everyone will want to try to take home with them.

Tickets for the festival are available from Rotarians, at Robert Barrigar Agency/Farm Bureau Insurance, Perch’s IGA, the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, and Alpena branches of Wolverine State Credit Union.

As well, new Alpena News subscribers who pay for a one-year subscription to The News receive two free tickets to the event, a $50 value.

Krawczak said tickets that aren’t sold before the event will be available at the door, but she said about half are sold already and it is not likely there will be any leftover the day of the event.

“People shouldn’t wait and not count on there being any tickets left the day of the event,” she said.

IF YOU GO

∫ WHAT: Alpena Rotary Club’s Brew on the Bay Craft Beer and Wine Festival

∫ WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. March 7

∫ WHERE: APlex, 701 Woodward Ave., Alpena

∫ HOW MUCH: $25

∫ INFO: Tickets include six beverage samples and a souvenir glass. Additional drink tickets available for purchase. Live, silent, and chance auctions will raise funds for renovations to the splash park at Starlite Beach in Alpena. Visit Facebook.com/AlpenaRotaryClub for more information.