Breweries and botanists have partnered for a unique fundraiser in Verona
May 7—A celebration of hops, barley and all things plantlike is being planned in Verona to help support the borough's garden club.
The group in charge of the hanging baskets and planters throughout the small town has teamed up with local breweries for a fundraising weekend called Botany & Booze.
It's scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. May 22-23 along the 700 block of East Railroad Avenue.
"We wanted to do something that felt a little different," club vice president Kimberly Roller said. "We wanted to try and benefit the garden club and also the community. I think it's nice for everybody to get out, have a nice time and good afternoon out."
The garden club had to cancel multiple fundraisers last year and this year due to the pandemic.
Organizers are hoping the upcoming celebration will provide a boost for more projects.
"Normally we would have a bingo or spaghetti dinner and none of those were feasible," she said. "We've gotten more people involved and starting to branch out and look at new opportunities for gardens in the borough that everybody can enjoy. Fundraisers like this are how we're going to be able to help fund those additional beautification efforts.
There will be plant sales, 50/50 and basket raffles, live entertainment, children's activities and about 20 vendors in addition to several adult beverage purveyors.
The event is open to all ages and admission is free. Those 21 years old and older can purchase tickets for one 4-ounce beer or mixed drink sample or a 2-ounce shot of liquor from each of the breweries.
Inner Groove Brewing will have a front row seat to the festivities being located along the avenue.
Its owners, including Kelly Melle, assisted in coordinating the event. She was able to connect with various food trucks and other distilleries.
"It will be the first festival that we have been able to do since covid," Melle said. "I think it's significant. It's the best to do it for the garden club because that's what makes Verona so beautiful. It's important to us.
"If you're going to have a festival, might as well bring some beer. ... The interest has been so great that it's getting people who like plants and like nature and like to drink some beer and distilled beverages and mead (together). It's just morphed into way more than we thought it would have been."
East Railroad Avenue will be closed between South and Center avenues during the event.
Participants should social distance when possible and will be required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Streets on the Fly and Mommalicious food trucks will be on hand May 22.
Revival Chili and Pub Chip Shop will bring their food trucks May 23.
Participating breweries include Inner Groove Brewing, Stonewall Cider House and Meadery, Butler Brew Works and 4Four6 Distillery.
Couch Brewery and Old Thunder Brewing Co. plan to participate May 22.
Brew Dog Pittsburgh and East End Brewing Co. are scheduled for May 23.
The first day of Botany & Booze is the same date for the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce's Arts & Libations crawl. The crawl will be along Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont from 2 to 8 p.m. on May 22.
Adults can buy a $10 ticket, get a wrist band and stroll the boulevard in support of local businesses.
There will be art exhibits, live music, demonstrations, performances and libations.
Melle and Roller said they plan to participate in that event once their event closes for the day.
"I would hit both and keep going and see more merchants," Melle said. "We are close enough that if someone wants to make a day of it they can definitely make a day of it."
Drink tickets and more information about Botany & Booze is available at facebook.com/VeronaGardenClub.
More information about Arts & Libations is available at oakmont-pa.com.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@triblive.com or via Twitter .
