Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival raises thousands for Mississippi Heroes

May 31, 2021June 1, 2021 By Cassandra Foreman Events

A record crowd converged at The Hollywood Warehouse in Gulfport on May 1 to kick off 2021’s Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival. The sold-out, western-themed event featured more than 30 breweries and restaurants offering tastings of their specialty craft beers and bacon inspired menus.
     And new to the event this year – chocolate! That’s right. Samples of sweet, delectable treats were abound, landing quite eloquently on the palate with its existing pairings of beer and bacon. A perfect addition to an event that’s increasing in popularity along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
     VIP ticket holders lined up early to enjoy complimentary drinks and music before the doors opened, everyone eager to get the night started.
     When asked her opinion on what she favors most about the event, Hollis McKinnley of Biloxi said, “the food is the best part…especially the bacon.”
     Jason and Sadie Herbert of Saucier have been volunteering for the festival for the last four years. “This is by far the biggest one yet,” the couple agreed. “They have done such a wonderful job this year.”
     All proceeds from the event benefit Mississippi Heroes – a nonprofit organization that celebrates everyday, nonprofessional caregivers like heroes. They acknowledge and celebrate nonprofessional caregivers in our area who choose to serve those in need by giving them a guilt-free day of relaxation and fun, allowing them to effectively continue their invaluable work.

Becky Butler and Jill Dittmann of Biloxi came out to support their friend and a good cause during the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival.

Gulfport residents Katie Wiggins, Corey Page, and Martin Conrad serve up samples and smiles at the Craft Advisory table during the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival.

     The Web site for Mississippi Heroes states, “Even the strongest rock needs a solid foundation upon which to rest.” As a nonprofit, they rely on fundraisers and donations from local businesses and volunteers. And volunteers made the Beer & Bacon Festival a shining success. Among those volunteering, the Order of Glaucus, a new Mardi Gras Krewe on the Gulf Coast, manned tables and gave out beer samples. Founded in 2020, the Order of Glaucus is a member-led service organization looking to make a difference in the community, and as a requirement, all members must complete 12 hours of community service per year.
     Vendors from all over the Gulf Coast collaborated to serve up the best beer and bacon pairings of the night. Attendees could vote throughout the night on the best selections in each category. Some winners from the evening included First place, Best in Bacon: The Rack House; First place, Best in Chocolate: Toastedbleue; and First place, Best in Brew: Craft Advisory.
     Sarah Hoyt of Biloxi opened her confectionary, Toastedbleue, at the end of 2020 and specializes in locally sourced, handmade confections. Along with providing samples of her delectable chocolates, Sarah explained her chocolate making and what sets her confections apart from the others. Other notable vendors included The District on the Alley, Crittenden Distillery, and Cathead Vodka.
     Throughout the night, guests visited each vendor booth, often multiple times, sampling each fare. Rhonda Herring of Port Allen Louisiana was one of those guests. The two-year reigning Mardi Gras queen for Krewe of Casa spent the evening with her friends, Roger and Teresa Folse of New Orleans, La. It was the couple’s first time to participate in the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon (and chocolate) Festival. “It’s just awesome,” said Teresa. “The tickets were a Christmas present to us and we are having a great time.”

Sarah Hoyt, owner of Toastedbleue handcrafted Chocolates and Confections in Biloxi, was a favorite among guests at the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival.

     That seemed to be the consensus among festival-goers like Nicionna Campbell of Biloxi who said, “This is wonderful,” as she was standing in line for samplings from the Second place, Best in Bacon winner: Island View Casino, which was not only giving away samples, but also goodie bags full of everything from mosquito spray to fuzzy dice.
     As the night went on, guests enjoyed music and dancing, a highly entertaining rendition of “Heads or Tails,” and a live dance showcase by “world champion dancers” Trish Drake and Mike
Spencer, instructors at Ballroom by the Bay in D’Iberville, owned by Mike Greenwood. Dance lesson packages by Trish and Mike were offered as a silent auction item for those interested.
     Other auction items included artwork by artist Terrance Osborne, autographed Saints memorabilia, restaurant gift certificates and stay-cations from local casinos. Auctioneer Chuck Mutz of Black Tie Auctions took to the stage for a lively round of bidding. One particularly hot item was a Kona six-string acoustic guitar signed by Toby Keith. Winner of the guitar, Manuel Cardosa of Gonzalez, La., said he wasn’t going to let it go. “The money goes for a good cause, and I wanted to buy this guitar in honor of my son,” Gonzalez said.
     Overall, the evening was a success bringing in roughly $40,000 dollars for Mississippi Heroes. “This event could not go on without the support and help of so many…,” Katherine Sutton, the festival’s founder and organizer, stated in a post on the event page.
     For more information about the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon & Chocolate Festival, visit gcbeerbaconfest.com.
     To learn more about Mississippi Heroes, visit mississippiheroes.org.

On the Cover: Karly Goff, Mary Moss, and Jackie Seavey, all of Gulfport, prep food items for the Island View Casino display during the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival held May 1, 2021, at The Hollywood Warehouse in Gulfport.

Trish Bonds of Gulfport, Leslie Barajas of Pass Christian, and Linda Saylor of Biloxi display samplings of Lazy Magnolia’s brews.

Taylor Wolf of Bay St. Louis and Jessica Dark of Pass Christian man the Wicked Weed and Stone Brewing table to serve a highly popular sample.

Scooter Burns, Haileigh Shepherd, and Lorraine Weiskopf of Gulfport, with owner of District 4 on the Alley, Rob Reed, serve up beer inspired bacon samplings.

Sandy Hobbs and Jan Mitchim of Gulfport came out to support the cause and enjoy the festivities.

Roosevelt Jamison and Nicionna Campbell, both of Biloxi, enjoy a selection from Craft Advisory.

Maria and Don Picolo, treasurer for Mississippi Heroes, sport some high fashion at the Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival.

CJ and Jessica Jones of Biloxi are dressed to impress, ready for a memorable night.

Clara Turnage of Gulfport and Tremayne Jackson of New Hebron, Miss., serve up some samplings of Patio 44’s signature appetizers.

Chelsey and Matt Crittenden of Crittenden Distillery in Kiln, Miss., liven things up with their smooth bourbon and grain shine.

Kim Neely and Linda Allee from Jackson, Miss., made a weekend out of the event.

Purvis, Miss., residents George and Eva Marie Fries

Mardi Gras queen for Krewe of Casa, Rhonda Herring from Port Allen La., and Teresa and Roger Folse of New Orleans, La., cool off on the patio.

Rebecca and Omar Gomez of Gulfport are all smiles.

Casey McClain of Ocean Springs, owner of Puff Belly’s, David Macon of St. Martin, and Whitley Lamey of D’Iberville share specialty beers and signature menu items with anxious guests.

Bill Greg of Gulfport, sales representative Anna Jensen of New Orleans, La., and Gary Pitcovich, also of Gulfport, bring the unique flavors from Urban South Brewery.

T. Francis from Ocean Springs is a supplier for the Mississippi made Bourbon by Cathead.

Rachel Meredith, a volunteer from Gulfport, mixes up some premium cocktails by Cathead Vodka.

Co-workers Alicia Norman, Donna Sprague, Stewart Norman, and Brandy Shorder, all of Gulfport, enjoy a sampling of Fairhope Brewery.

Amanda Bray of Gulfport and Chris Casey from Houston, Texas, educate the masses on the process of home brewing.

Hollis McKinley and Heather Kesby, both of Biloxi, find the food to be the best part of the festival.

Andrea Evan, Elaine Medley, and Desiree Pickard, all of Ocean Springs

Chris and Brandy Waltman of Biloxi greet guests and present them with sample cups and souvenirs.

Danny Smith, Frank McGonagill, Julie Smith, and Yupia McGonagill, all of Berwick, La., cut loose and have a good time among friends.

Owner Jason Deitering of Beastie Yeastie located in D’Iberville

Mitchell Distributing’s Jonathan Richards, Gulf Coast Beer & Bacon Festival organizer Katherine Sutton, and FEB Distribution’s Aaron LaFrance go over last-minute details ahead of the Saturday night event.

Cassandra Foreman

Cassandra Foreman is a U.S. Air Force veteran whose creative spirit and love for imagery has presented her with some incredible opportunities both personally and professionally. From a young age, she was always involved in the arts in some way, whether it was music, drama, drawing or taking pictures. Growing up in Washington and Alaska, there was no shortage of picturesque opportunities. And in her teenage years, she discovered her passion for photography. Today, Cassandra resides in D’Iberville, Miss., and enjoys “turning moments into memories” while capturing the beauty in the world around her. She has, in recent years, focused her photography skills and extraordinary attention to detail on helping others seize life’s precious moments. Overall, Cassandra enjoys being a part of the creative process from start to finish. She loves working with others and bringing ideas to life.