LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, March 17, at noon the Lake County Chamber of Commerce will break onto the scene with the inaugural Rhythm & Brews music and beer festival starting with a kazoo and costume parade in Lewis Hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

From there, a variety of bands are scheduled to thrill the audience along with demonstrations from the Lake County Home Brewers Club and Lake County Winemakers Club. And then there will be home made musical instruments. The entire event will be held from noon to p.m. on March 17.

This inaugural event is going to celebrate beer and music on a day known for its shenanigans already, but there is a standing invitation to bring home-made musical instruments of any kind to the stage where the audience will vote for their favorite. The winner will get a $100 gift certificate to Lake Builders Supply in Nice.

More information is available at www.rhythm-and-brews.com or by calling the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092.

Planned festivities include a wacky Irish costume contest, demonstrations by local beer brewing and wine making clubs, a variety of beer tastings, Irish stew competition and three terrific and diverse musical acts on the stage.  

Admission is free to the event; however, there will be an opportunity to purchase beer tastings from the huge number of breweries that will be represented at the celebration and/or tastings of Irish stew by the number of people who have already signed-up to compete in this challenge.

Furthermore there will be an ongoing opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a ‘pot of gold.’ At the conclusion of the event, three drawings will be held for $500, $250 and $100 in cold, hard cash.

Tickets for this are now available at the Chamber of Commerce in Lakeport or at the Featherbed Railroad in Nice.

Younger guests will have plenty of choices, too, with plans for a Little Leprechauns area featuring games and more.

Three bands are scheduled: The Cob Stompers will break loose the celebration with their traditional Bluegrass music followed by Andi Skelton and the Clan featuring traditional Irish music and much more. Finally, Bound to Ride will fill Lewis Hall with music for two sets.

Between these fine acts will be demonstrations of beer brewing, wine making and shenanigans of the homemade musical instruments and wacky costume contests.

Bring your spirit of fun, love of music and taste for beer and Irish stew to the Lake County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 17 for the inaugural Rhythm & Brews festival from noon to 5 p.m.

Don’t forget to don your craziest Irish costume for a chance to win the costume contest, or put together your own musical instrument to make merry.

For more information, the Chamber of Commerce has it at 707-263-5092 or www.rhythm-and-brews.com .