Carson City Rotary hosts beer and pizza championships Saturday

The inside of the Carson Mall is under construction, as local Rotarians move in chairs, tables and decorations for “the biggest beer garden in town” — Saturday’s Beer and Pizza Championships — four hours of fun and refreshments hosted by the Rotary Club of Carson City and High Sierra Brewing Company.

Inside the mall, 16 different craft breweries will offer their creations while pizza and other food vendors share their own dishes. In addition to the beers and food, attendees will enjoy the Schall Adams Band performing blues and rock hits, opportunities to win wheelbarrows of wine and beer and a drawing for a Boston Samuel Adams vacation.

“This is going to be our best year yet,” said Anne Hansen, Rotary Club president. “We have more beer, more tables, great drawing prizes and fantastic music. People have been calling me all week about coming tonight. We’re just so thankful for all the businesses and people who support this event.”

All the beer and food are donated, while local companies and neighbors have also given more than 50 items for the popular silent auction.

Doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. on the east entrance to the Mall. Tickets are available at the door for $45.

Beer and food will be offered until 9 p.m.

The championships are the Carson City Rotary’s major fundraising event, with proceeds supporting local scholarships, needy charities and other community organizations that are vetted by the club.

Breweries at the 2015 Championships: Ninkasi, Goose Island, Lagunitas, Brewers Cabinet, Stoneyhead Beer, Pigeon Head Brewery, The Brewing Lair, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing Company, Great Basin Brewing Company, Lost Coast Brewing Company, Sam Adams, Tonopah Brewing Company, Lake Tahoe Brewing Co., High Sierra Brewing Company and 2 Towns Ciderhouse.

Food vendors at the 2015 Championships: Little Caesars, Wally’s Pizza, Papa Murphy’s, Grandma Hattie’s, Karen’s Cupcakes, Buffalo Wild Wings, Thai Thai, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and Round Table Pizza.

Founded on Feb. 26, 1938, the Rotary Club of Carson City’s motto is, “Where Community Is Family.” Members have helped contribute more than $1 million to support local and regional needs, including student scholarships, teacher excellence awards, and assistance to Friends in Service Helping, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, Food For Thought, Carson City Health and Human Services, Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, Carson Parks and Recreation programs, and many more deserving organizations. The Rotary Club of Carson City is one of 34,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries around the world. With more than 1.2 million members, Rotary International is one of the largest volunteer organizations worldwide, comprised of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world, as well as making a difference in their own individual communities. We honor “Service Above Self.”

Membership in Rotary offers men and women in all walks of life the opportunity to create new friendships and share the rewards of helping others through communal volunteer service. Those who may wish to explore the fellowship of Rotary are welcome — The Rotary Club of Carson City meets every Tuesday at noon at the Carson Nugget in downtown Carson City. The Rotary Club meeting offers a chance for members to socialize, network and plan service activities based on local needs. They also hear from outstanding speakers and enhance their knowledge of their community and the world.