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BLUE & GRAY POURS ON
Began as an observation	rob grogan
March 2010 BLUE & GRAY POURS ON Brewery’s annual parade began as an observation Eight years ago, on St. Patrick’s Day 2002, a good Irish lad named Jeffrey Sean Fitzpatrick stood in a chilling, pouring rain with then-Mayor Bill Beck, officials from the Chamber of Commerce, and other dignitaries for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Jeff’s Blue & Gray Brewing Co. on Dill Smith Road in Bowman Center. Surprised by the good turnout in bad weather on a popular holiday, Jeff turned to his wife, Lori, and wondered aloud, “What are all those people doing out in the rain looking for something to do on St. Patricks’s Day?” Those people, it seems, had found just what they were looking for -– beer samplings, tours of the brewery-to-be, and a festive, if damp, open house atmosphere. Eight years and a mayor later, Jeff’s 8^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Volunteer Fire & Rescue Fundraiser will partially unveil a new extension of the brewery. Relocated next door to its original site, Blue & Gray is just days away from a full-on brewpub with sit-down service and glass walls offering diners a view of the brews in progress. On March 13, the pub will serve traditional St. Pat’s Day fare under the adjacent tent and pour B&G products from its giant tanks. The festivities begin on Saturday, March 13^th at 10AM, rain or shine. Beginning at 10:30AM, visit the historic railroad cars of the Rappahannock Chapter, NRHS, on site. Front Porch readers are in good Irish luck -– Look for Jeff’s ad and take it with you for half-off on your 2010 commemorative pint glass. Be prepared to belt out an Irish lyric or two and dance up a jig. Purchase your corned beef meal tickets [comes with cabbage and potato and a beer or Snapple] for only $5 at Roxbury Mills or at the brewery. Tickets go on sale March 1 until Friday evening, March 12. The day-of cost is $7, number of tickets limited. All proceeds go to the fundraiser [see below]. At High Noon, they’ll begin the parade that proceeds down Main Street in the Bowman Center (from Downtown, go south on Dixon Street past the Fairgrounds to Bowman Center on left) and files past the brewery on Dill Smith Drive [540-371-7799; www.blueandgraybrewingco.com]. It includes fire trucks, classic cars, a high school marching band, community organizations, Irish dancers, horses, military equipment and local pageant winners. This parade event itself is free admission, followed immediately by a local Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department Fundraiser. Once again, “Support Your Local Heroes,” is Jeff’s Blue & Gray theme for the day. Blue & Gray Brewing donates the food and beverage; so all meal ticket sales go to local volunteer fire and rescue departments. $1 hotdogs will be ready for the kids, with no advance ticket purchase necessary. Free Irish entertainment, song and dance, too -- traditional Irish fiddle, Irish and Highland dancers, and a magician with Christian themes, plus a Shamrock face painter and craft table (free) for the kids. And while you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate Jeff and his brewery, too. In just eight years, Blue & Gray has built the premier March event. Its celebrated brands of beer are found at the best taprooms and restaurants throughout the region. Give Jeff another eight years with the coming brewpub and the sky’s the limit! Sláinte!
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