Inaugural Birds & Brews: Fall for Raptors Highlights Local Businesses

On Saturday, November 2, 2024, the Carolina Raptor Center hosted a sold-out crowd of 280 with the inaugural Birds & Brews: Fall for Raptors event, a beverage festival along the zoological Raptor Trail. 11 Charlotte area breweries were joined by Brandon Hills Vineyard, Canal Coffee, and Red Clay Cider sharing samples of their products. 

Melonbelly kept the crowd upbeat with live music on a fall afternoon while Roots Catering served up a variety of small bites for guests at this all-inclusive event. Avian ambassadors on the glove provided nose-to-beak experiences for guests – Belle the American Kestrel and Sadiq the Lanner Falcon greeted everyone when they walked in while Bart the Eurasian Eagle Owl had their moments with individual photos. 

The evening ended with Erin Katzner, President/CEO, sharing the stage with Gertrude the Great Horned Owl and Surrey the Barn Owl to highlight how the Carolina Raptor Center makes an impact locally and regionally with animal welfare, conservation, and education.    

Suffolk Punch Brewing was announced as the People’s Choice Award winner for their beers Daydream Lager and Tropical IPA. 

Birds & Brews: Fall for Raptors would not be possible without our sponsors stepping forward to support our mission to ignite a passion for raptors and a responsibility for our shared natural world. 

In addition to the corporate sponsors, we are thankful for the local businesses that donated their products and staff to help pour at the event. Also, the Huntersville Lowe’s store donated buckets for the event. We are grateful for everyone’s partnership and pleased that many event guests visited local restaurants for dinner after the afternoon event concluded. 

Robert Koch, Vice President of Development, shared, “It was great partnering with Roots Catering to have a diverse menu of small bites to pair with the beverage tastings. We even were able to use Wingzza Mambo Sauce from my Leadership Charlotte classmate Larry Swayne. Also, most of our regular programming is focused on families, so it was fun to host a 21+ event with both familiar and new faces, particularly as we near the end of year giving season.” 

Interested in supporting the work happening at the Raptor Hospital and Raptor Trail? Explore Ways to Give online, email [email protected], or call 704-875-6521.