First-ever B4 Summer Festival to launch season with flair

SPRING GROVE — With three live bands, five local brewers and nine food trucks — all descending on one of the most fun outdoor venues around, and all for some great causes — a certain upcoming event promises to be one folks will be talking about long after last call.

The B4 Summer Festival will take place from 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Richardson Adventure Farm, 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate, with a $45 VIP option also available. Proceeds will benefit five area nonprofits, as well as a scholarship fund of the hosting Chain O’ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Wojdyla is chairman of the festival as well as first vice president of the Chain O’ Lakes chamber, marketing director for the Volo Museum, and lead singer of the Modern Day Romeos, one of three bands set to perform at the fest.

“There is so much anticipation for fest season once it gets warm,” Wojdyla said, “and we aim to kick off the summer in the best way possible.”

B4, Wojdyla added, stands for Bacon, Bourbon, Beer and Bands. Additionally, although amenities like its zip line, giant jumping pillows, pedal karts, giant slide and 50-foot observation tower are normally open to visitors only in the fall, the Richardson Adventure Farm will open these especially for the B4 Summer Festival.

“This is a huge bonus for families coming out to spend the day with us,” Wojdyla said. “We are not charging extra for any of that — all of the family activities are free.”

Headlining bands for the day include Modern Day Romeos, 7th Heaven and Serendipity. Food trucks — serving up bacon and non-bacon-themed fare — include Pixie Dawgs, Miss Bella’s Sweets & Eats, Brothers’ BBQ, Churros Y Chocolate, Stix and Noodles, 15 Lakes Mobile Bistro, Taco Express, Fork N Fry Poutine and Da Local Boy.

The beverage selection also will surely impress. In addition to soft drinks, domestic beers and seltzers, craft beer will be available from Crystal Lake, Black Lung, Holzlager, Harbor and 9th Hour breweries. A private bourbon tasting also is planned.

With so much fun in store, organizers of the B4 Summer Festival hope to raise a significant sum for the benefiting nonprofits.

Along with the chamber’s scholarship fund, beneficiaries are: Allendale Association, an organization offering therapeutic programs and services for children with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families; Save-A-Pet, a no-kill cat and dog rescue; Elderwerks, an organization that assists with senior housing and elder care solutions; and Jeeps on the Run, a group of charity-oriented Jeep owners supporting Toys for Tots, pediatric cancer, breast cancer and heart disease prevention and awareness, local food pantries and more.

Top B4 Summer Fest sponsors to date are the Ray Auto Group, Volo Museum, Nielsen Enterprises, Richardson Farm and the Freedom Boat Club.

For event tickets or other information, visit Eventbrite.com and search for the B4 Summer Festival at Richardson Adventure Farm. Or, find the B4 Summer Festival page on Facebook, where a tickets portal also is available.