As summertime continues to wind down (it's officially over Sept. 21, people), you're gonna need a drink. So why not live a little?
On top of Marchand's Bar & Grill's White Hot Summer Party and the Summer of Rum Festival over Labor Day weekend, Cajun Cafe on the Bayou has its Sunday Bayou Beer Garden event in store for later in September. Tickets to these three beverage-fueled happenings range from $40 to $130. Keep reading for more on each — and remember, you neeed this.
At 8 p.m. Sept. 2, kick off your Labor Day celebrating at Marchand's White Hot Summer Party, where food, drinks and music will collide in downtown St. Pete. Hosted at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club restaurant, the event is set to feature five food stations, plus refreshing cocktails at the bar. DJ Fresh will help guests, sporting their best all-white outfits, spend one of the last weekends of summer on the dance floor. Tickets, which cost between $90 and $125, are available online in advance, but only the Platinum Level ticket holders get the extra Champagne Hour.
The annual Summer of Rum Festival has moved to Channelside Bay Plaza, but will still offer a fine array of rum drinks, everything from frozen daiquiris and pina coladas to Rum Runners and rum-a-ritas, fit for sipping throughout the day. The lineup of tropical-themed entertainment for the fest, which runs from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 3, includes Reel Big Fish and Tef London. Advanced general admission tickets are $17, and VIP are $90. Those with general admission who want to attend the Grand Rum Tasting, featuring rums from around the world, will need to purchase a separate pass ($20 in advance).
Around 100 beers spread out over 20 covered pouring stations will be showcased during Cajun Cafe's Sunday Bayou Beer Garden. Great Bay Distributors, T.A.M.P.A. Beers, Arkane Aleworks and Willard's Tap House are among the Pinellas Park event's participating brewers, bars and distributors. Limited to 200 guests, admission to the small gathering, whose presale tickets are $40 (they get bumped up to $50 at the door), also comes with a Cajun plate and other bites.
This article appears in Aug 25 – Sep 1, 2016.