MOBILE, Ala. — Be The Change Gulf Coast will hold Hive Fest, an outdoor music festival and fundraiser, at the Hatcher Farms venue in Mobile on Sunday, Nov. 1. The afternoon starts at 2 p.m. at 10780 Jeff Hamilton Road. Organizers say the event is about bringing people together while making a meaningful impact across the Gulf Coast.
Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and settle in on the lawn for an afternoon of live performances, local vendors, lawn games, food and drinks.
What to expect
Hive Fest combines a laid-back outdoor concert with a charity fundraiser. The afternoon will include:
- Live performances through the afternoon
- Local vendors selling goods on site
- Lawn games for guests of all skill levels
- Food and drinks
Since the event is set up as a lawn festival, organizers recommend bringing your own seating. Folding chairs or a picnic blanket will make the afternoon more comfortable.
Tickets: general admission and VIP
There are two ticket levels:
- General admission: $65. Entry to the festival.
- VIP admission: $99. Event entry, food and four drink tickets, plus access to a VIP area with select finger foods, a private VIP bar and private indoor bathrooms.
The VIP package adds a lot for $34 more. Guests who expect to eat and have a few drinks may find that it costs about the same as buying those separately, and the indoor restrooms are a plus at an outdoor venue.
Sponsorships available
Be The Change Gulf Coast is also looking for sponsors. Businesses and individuals interested in supporting the event can contact the organization about sponsorship opportunities. For local businesses, sponsoring a community fundraiser is a way to support a good cause while getting their name in front of a festival crowd.
A fundraiser with a purpose
Organizers describe Hive Fest as a gathering meant to bring people together while making a meaningful impact across the Gulf Coast. Ticket and sponsorship money supports the work of Be The Change Gulf Coast. Anyone who wants to know more about where the money goes and the causes the group supports can contact the organization directly.
Events like Hive Fest have become a common way for local nonprofits to raise money. A ticketed concert, food and drinks give supporters a fun afternoon, and sponsorships and admissions provide money for the group’s work. For guests, it’s a chance to spend a fall afternoon outside and support a cause at the same time.
Planning your afternoon
- Bring a chair or blanket. Organizers specifically encourage guests to bring their own seating.
- Dress for the weather. Early November afternoons in Mobile are often pleasant but can cool off as the sun goes down, so a light jacket is a good idea.
- Remember the time change. Daylight saving time ends early that Sunday morning, Nov. 1, when clocks fall back an hour. Sunset in Mobile that evening comes at around 5 p.m., so the later part of the festival will be after dark.
- Bring sun protection. Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen help at an outdoor afternoon event.
- Decide on your ticket early. If the VIP perks matter to you, especially the food, drink tickets and indoor restrooms, choose that package when you buy.
- Come ready to shop. Local vendors will be on site, so you may get a head start on holiday gifts.
Giving wisely at charity events
Ticketed fundraisers like Hive Fest are a popular way to support nonprofits, and a few general tips can help guests and sponsors give with confidence:
- Ask about the cause. Reputable organizations are happy to explain what their work involves and how event proceeds will be used.
- Check an organization’s status. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool, available on irs.gov, lets anyone check whether a group is registered as a tax-exempt charity.
- Understand tax deductions. Under IRS rules, when a ticket to a charity event includes food, drinks or entertainment, generally only the amount paid above the fair market value of what the guest receives can be deducted as a charitable contribution. Charities often list that amount on tickets or receipts. Anyone unsure should check with the organization or a tax professional.
- Keep your receipts. Ticket confirmations and sponsorship invoices are useful records at tax time.
What sponsors typically consider
Businesses weighing a sponsorship for a community event often look at how many people the event expects to attend, how and where sponsors will be recognized, and whether the cause fits the company’s own values and customer base. Local events offer a chance to reach neighbors directly, and sponsors often find that supporting a well-run community fundraiser builds goodwill that lasts beyond a single afternoon.
Fall on the Gulf Coast
Hive Fest arrives in the middle of a busy fall season of outdoor events in Mobile and Baldwin counties. After the heat of summer, cooler, drier weather makes October and November popular months for festivals, concerts and fundraisers on lawns, farms and parks across the region. An open-air music festival on a Sunday afternoon is a good fit for the season.
If you go
- What: Hive Fest, a music festival and fundraiser by Be The Change Gulf Coast
- When: Sunday, Nov. 1, starting at 2 p.m.
- Where: Hatcher Farms, 10780 Jeff Hamilton Road, Mobile
- Tickets: $65 general admission; $99 VIP, which includes entry, food, four drink tickets and access to the VIP area with finger foods, a private bar and indoor restrooms
- Bring: Chairs or blankets
- Features: Live performances, local vendors, lawn games, food and drinks
- Sponsorships: Available through Be The Change Gulf Coast
