Ski association slates brewfest fundraiser for Saturday

For the second year in a row, the Snowdance Ski Association will host its Winter Brewfest to raise money for the Bear Paw Ski Bowl, the area’s ski slope in the Bear Paw Mountains.

Dave Martens Jr., organizer of Saturday’s brewfest, said sponsors will include Triple Dog Brewing Co., New Media Broadcasters and Triangle Mobile.

Last year’s brewfest, which took place at the Havre Central Gymnasium, brought in $11,050, he said.

This year’s brewfest will take place at the Havre Ice Dome off Fifth Avanue south of Havre from 4 to 9 p.m. For $10 at the door, people will receive a tasting glass and two drink tickets to sample beer from as many as 10 different Montana breweries. Additional drink tickets can be purchased for $1 each.

All proceeds will go to the Snowdance Ski Association to support the group’s operation of the ski bowl.  

Martens said this year’s event also will include breweries from Bozeman, Cut Bank, Red Lodge and Hamilton.

The Eagle Creek Ski Patrol, which provides on-hill first aid and outdoor emergency care at Bear Paw Ski Bowl, also will raise money at the event for its activities by selling ski hill favorites “hermy burgers,” “augie dogs” and soda, Martens said.  

Russ Nasset & The Revelators, a honky tonk band from Missoula, will provide live music.

Martens said a raffle also will be held. Items raffled off will include a snowboard from Havre Distributors, a photograph of the Bear Paw Mountains donated by Steve Helmbrecht Photography and two adirondack chairs provided by J.T. Schubert.

KNMC, Montana State University-Northern’s campus radio station which Martens manages, will host a brewfest after party at Shamrock Bar, 319 First St. Three bands from outside the Havre area will provide entertainment: Rooster Sauce, a garage band from Missoula; Magpies, a husband-and-wife team formerly of Havre which recently released an album titled “Annex,” and Blistered Earth, a Metallica tribute band.

Admission is $2 and all proceeds from the after party will go to paying the bands, Martens said.