Suds for Sun Sounds

When the temperatures are hot during the summer – and into the fall – months in the desert, few things beat enjoying the taste of a delicious beer on a warm day.

Well, that is unless you’re enjoying sampling a number of different beers in the company of thousands of friends and people from your community and all in the name of a worthy cause. In this instance, the cause is Sun Sounds of Arizona and the event is the Great Tucson Beer Festival.

Colorful characters populate the annual Great Tucson Beer Festival.
Photo: ©2011 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

In its 28th year, Sun Sound’s Great Tucson Beer Festival is again taking place at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E Ajo Way, on Saturday, Sept. 27 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for early bird entry and 6 p.m. for general admission. Offering attendees a selection of over 150 beers on tap to sample, plus a diverse, mouth-watering array of food from local restaurants and a number of fun activities and live music, Sun Sounds is expecting their biggest and best festival to date.

“This is something that we look forward to hosting every year, as it brings so many people from our community together to support a cause that we’re very passionate about,” says Sun Sounds Tucson Station Manager Mitzi Tharin. “We’re lucky to have so many people return to the event each year, but already this year 51% of the people who have bought tickets so far are brand new, which is exciting for us. We want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a fun time and hopefully it raises awareness for the service that we offer.”

Founded in Phoenix in 1979 by Dr. Frank Kells, Sun Sounds created a Tucson branch in 1985 where they provide spoken versions of written text that covers everything from newspapers, magazines, books and all forms of media to those who cannot read print due to visual disabilities. By providing over 2,000 radios to visually impaired Tucson residents and allowing them to stream the content over the internet, Sun Sounds has helped over 15,000 Tucsonans stay up on the news and their favorite books while truly enhancing their quality of living.

“The service that we provide is so important because when someone is unable to read on their own, it can really devastate people. So to bring them spoken versions of printed words really changes their lives and makes them feel like they’re no longer disadvantaged in that aspect,” says Tharin. “We read a wide spectrum of programs that can be chosen on our guide to satisfy everyone. We offer fiction, non-fiction, news, magazines, westerns, dramas, comedies and pretty much anything someone would want to hear.  And they get a human voice, not a synthesized voice, which makes a big difference.”

The annual beer festival helps the organization tremendously, as they generate over two thirds of their yearly budget by putting on this event. In a truly win-win situation, the attendees are treated to a night full of fun, excitement and dancing, as the band Eighties and Gentlemen will be performing music from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. The audience can also partake in a variety of games including horseshoes, static steer roping, beep ball and many others. And it all will take place in the beautiful setting of Kino Sports Complex.

“This is the second year that the Sun Sounds organization will host its annual beer festival at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium and we couldn’t be happier to have them and to be a part of their fundraising event,” says Kino Sports Complex Marketing Manager Sallyann Wassmuth. “They put in so much work and planning to make it fun and entertaining for everyone and there is a real social element to the event all centered on the beer and food sampling from local breweries and restaurants.

“And most importantly, Sun Sounds puts a tremendous effort into promoting a safe, responsible event. They offer designated driver tickets and partner with the Holiday Inn just around the corner where the hotel provides shuttle service to and from the event. Cab Service is also available. They are really conscientious about providing responsible options to everyone,” Wassmuth adds.

For designated drivers, there will be plenty of free parking in the accompanying lots as well as non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy. And while this is a mellow evening of fun, this event is entirely tailored for adults and no one under 21-years-old will be granted entry. General admission tickets are available online or through Plaza Liquors, Thunder Canyon Brewery and Sun Sounds for $45 and VIP tickets are also available for $85 which gives you early entry to the event as well as access to VIP benefits.

“It’s a win for everybody because attendees have such a blast and it helps to sustain what we do for the entire year. It’s so important to us to keep the momentum going with this event,” says Tharin. “The entertainment will be really good and that’s always a favorite of the crowd. You’ll get to sample a lot of food and try different beers that are unique and seasonal and all while being around a lot of really great people.”

The event is Saturday, Sept. 27, with doors at 6 p.m. Kino Sports complex is located at 2500 Ajo Way. For more information visit AZBeer.com or call (520) 296-2400.

Food complements the bevy of beer offerings at the Great Tucson Beer Festival.
photo: ©2013 Rachel Seelen/Urban Abstrakt Photography/courtesy Sun Sounds

Category: Community, Entertainment, Events, FOOD & DRINK