Pathways Palooza packs SCFF Beer Garden

Community Pathways held its annual Pathways Palooza fundraiser event at the Steele County Free Fair last week with a goal of reaching a $30,000 mark.

The organization offered multiple unique experiences including a foam machine for the younger audience, and an event-only beer called the “Pathways Pilsner” brewed by Mineral Springs Brewery (MSB) and a former Foremost brewmaster.

“Pathways Palooza is always about bringing together a bunch of people who support us to enjoy themselves on a Friday night. We have some amazing local businesses here and talent, like our headliners No Coast. It’s really about community partnerships and showing how grateful we are for all that they do to support us,” said Community Pathways Executive Director Dom Korbel.

The community showed up early and in bunches to the Beer Garden and packed the inside nearly right away at the 4 p.m. start.

According to Korbel, it was one of the best beginnings to a Pathways Palooza in recent memory.

“Last year we hit $27,000, so we know that $30,000-mark is in reach. You can put on whatever kind of event you want, but people have to show up the night of for it to work… In terms of attendance, every one of my volunteers have told me that we have more people here in the first hour than we ever have before,” said Korbel.

Part of the major draw was the event’s Pathways Pilsner – a limited availability beer that can only be found at both of Community Pathways’ annual events, or periodically at MSB.

According to Korbel, MSB brewmaster Mark Sebring said the beer is a “crusher” and not only because it sells well, but that the flavor is so dynamic it can disappear quite easily.

With music blasting, kids enjoying the foam pit out front and adults scoping out auction items, the Pathways Palooza took over Friday-night fun at the fairgrounds in what should turn out to be another successful event for the organization.