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On Friday, May 10, from 5:30-8:00PM, the WNC Nature Center will host the first Brews and Bears event of the 2019 season! Due to the popularity of this after-hours event, there will be four occurrences over the course of the summer, falling on the second Friday of each month: May 10, June 14, July 12, and August 9.
There will be food, drink, music, and yard games, and guests will get to watch an enrichment activity for the Nature Center’s resident black bears, Uno and Ursa. “Brews and Bears is the perfect happy hour fundraiser that lets guests explore the Nature Center after hours while supporting the wildlife they love,” said Kate Frost, Director of Development at Friends of the WNC Nature Center. “You can also take your pint with you and visit the newest addition to the WNC Nature Center – our red pandas, Leafa and Phoenix.”
Admission to Brews & Bears is $8 for Friends of the WNC Nature Center members and $10 for non-members. The event is intended primarily for adults, although youth are welcome to attend with the purchase of a ticket. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://www.wncnaturecentergifts.org/brews-and-bears. Proceeds from both ticket and beverage sales go to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center and help support various programs throughout the park, including animal enrichment and habitat renovations.
The Brews and Bears events are presented by Festiva and The Biltmore Company. Additional sponsors include Brickstreet Equity Management, Landmark Landscapes, and White Oak Financial Management.
Beer, cider or wine, and food will be available for purchase at each event:
May 10
Beer: Highland Brewing
Cider: Black Mountain Cider + Mead
Food Truck: Brinehaus Meat+Provision Food Truck
Others: Blunt Pretzels, The Hop Ice Cream
June 14
Beer: New Belgium Brewing
Cider: Black Mountain Cider + Mead
Food Truck: Cecilia’s Kitchen
Others: Blunt Pretzels; Sun’s Out, Buns Out Hot Dogs; The Hop Ice Cream
July 12
Beer: UpCountry Brewing
Mead/Wine: Black Mountain Cider + Mead, Plēb Urban Winery
Food Truck: Gypsy Queen Cuisine
Others: Blunt Pretzels; Sun’s Out, Buns Out Hot Dogs; The Hop Ice Cream
August 9
Beer: Oskar Blues Brewing
Cider: Black Mountain Cider + Mead
Food Truck: Appalachian Chic
Others: Blunt Pretzels; Sun’s Out, Buns Out Hot Dogs; The Hop Ice Cream
The American black bear, Ursus americanus, is the only bear species native to North Carolina. At the WNC Nature Center, Uno and Ursa continue to be ambassadors for the American black bears in this area. They were removed from the wild for unknown reasons and lack survival skills. Therefore, they cannot be released into the wild. They prefer to den separately in the summer but enjoy sharing a den for winter torpor. On hot summer days, Uno and Ursa splash in their habitat’s pool and enjoy enrichment such as frozen fish, fruit, and ice popsicles.
The Friends is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the animals, programs, and facilities of the WNC Nature Center. The Nature Center connects people of all ages with the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Friends of the WNC Nature Center has worked for 45 years in support of the Nature Center, through memberships, gift shop sales, educational outreach, volunteer program, fundraising, and events. In 2019, the Friends donated $1.2 million to support Nature Center projects like the Red Panda Habitat and Front Entrance. For more information on the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, or to join the Friends and support future projects, visit www.wildwnc.org.
