Celebration to coincide with Lake Lawn Resort’s Shake the Lake, Jimmy Buffett concert at Alpine Valley
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
After the closing and demolition of Two Season’s Bowl in Elkhorn about two years ago, it seemed like it was the end of an era for Bruce Kudick’s Buffett Bash.
However, this year, Kudick plans to bring the party back to Elkhorn and continuing in true parrothead fashion, plans to again party with a purpose.
In the past, Buffett Bash has been a staple for area Buffett fans, even having Doyle Grisham, Mike Utley, and Nadirha Shakoor from Jimmy Buffett’s coral reefer band performing at the event in 2009.
Beginning Thursday, Aug. 20, Kudick will once again host his Buffett Bash here in Elkhorn, though this year, parrotheads will be joining together at the Walworth County Fairgrounds for a weekend of camping and music.
As in the past, Kudick said proceeds from this year’s Buffett Bash will benefit the Walworth County Alliance for Children, a project dedicated to keeping children from having to deal with the trauma of testifying in a trial. The Walworth County Alliance for Children offers children facing abuse – mental, physical and sexual – a safe place to share their stories with adults who can help.
This year, Kudick said he aims to provide live entertainment at the fairgrounds on both Thursday and Friday on the fairgrounds Park Stage. Thursday’s artists include Roger Jokela, originally from northern Wisconsin, and hopefully the Souther Drawl Band. On Friday, Kudick said he will have longtime friends, the J.P.s – an island infused acoustic duo featuring Jimi Pappas and John Patti – and the Compass Rose Band.
Kudick said there is a $5 cover charge for anyone who wants to come for the performances.
This year, Kudick said they will be holding a raffle for a week stay at a condo in Gulf Shores, Ala. Tickets for the raffle cost $25 each or $100 for six, with the winner being drawn on Sunday afternoon. Kudick said there will also be other prizes.
For those who have come to camp and take in the Jimmy Buffet concert Saturday night at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Kudick said he has set up a bus to shuttle people over to the concert. While he only has one bus going at this time, he said he is more than willing to get another bus if there is enough people to warrant it.
The cost for the bus service to Alpine Valley M usic Theatre is $31. If people are interested, even if they’re not camping at the fairgrounds, he asks they contact him through his website, noparrotheadleftbehind.com to let him know.
Having worked with Lake Lawn Resort’s Shake the Lake last year, Kudick said he plans to work with them again this year, providing a shuttle service over to the event for interested parrotheads throughout the weekend. Like Buffett Bash, proceeds from Shake the Lake will benefit the Walworth County Alliance for Children.
“So even if people wanted to come and weren’t going to go to the concert, they can hang out there and still go over there on Saturday night and enjoy the music that will be going on there,” he said.
In bringing it back this year and not knowing how large it would be, Kudick said he won’t be serving food or anything this year and it’s more of a bring-your-own event.
“They can bring a cooler of beverages, I’m not saying they should bring beer or anything, because I didn’t want to get the liquor license to sell at this point because I didn’t know how big it would be,” he said.
“At this point they can bring a cooler and chairs, snacks if they want to do snacks,” he added noting grills are OK for those camping at the fairgrounds.
Camping for Buffet Bash for Friday and Saturday nights is $122 and can be paid for online. There is a two-night minimum and Thursday night is optional at an additional $61. Booking a campsite can be handled online.
Entertainment at Lake Lawn will include Ari, the Southern Drawl Band, the Bamboozlers, Bella Cain and the Boat Drunks, who have played for Kudick’s Buffet Bash numerous times in the past and have even opened for Jimmy Buffett.
For more information on Buffett Bash, events and contests over the weekend, visit noparrotheadleftbehind.com.
