Alaqua Animal Refuge Announces Animoré
A Weekend Benefit for the Love of Animals
Alaqua Animal Refuge announced its newest fundraising weekend, Animoré, to be held Friday and Saturday, October 18 and 19, 2019 on the grounds of Alaqua’s future home along Highway 20 in Freeport, Florida. Showcasing two events and one epic weekend, Animoré is the first annual festival in celebration of and for the love of animals. The combination of two words, Animoré symbolizes “animals” and “amore,” which means love in Italian.
Kicking off the festivities is Alaqua’s 6th Annual 100 Point and Cult Wine Dinner on Friday evening, October 18. This exclusive evening is a one-of-a-kind experience for a limited collection of patrons, as guests will be the first to dine in a most unique, surprise setting at Alaqua’s future home.
The elegant affair begins with a cocktail reception and an intimate musical performance, followed by an exquisite 5-course dinner prepared by Chef Brendan Davey, with each course perfectly paired with distinctive and stellar wines, procured especially for this dinner. An evening of luxe savoring and sipping, including a live and silent auction, this fête is not to be missed!
As an added bonus this year, 100 Point and Cult Wine Dinner guests will be treated to the VIP Patron Lounge and prime seating at Saturday’s Inaugural Barn Jam (including complimentary food and drinks).
The animoré Inaugural Barn Jam takes place on Saturday, and will feature an outdoor music festival with performances by Nashville songwriters Billy Dawson, Aaron Barker, and Jon Nite. Together, these award-winning songwriters and performers have written hits for George Strait, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, and many more. Headlining is roots-rocking, multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindell who has collaborated and shared stages with John Fogerty and Jackson Browne, and is a founding member of Dragon Smoke with Ivan Neville. The Barn Jam will include a wide variety of food trucks, beverages, and auction.
Tickets for all events are currently on sale at http://bit.ly/animore-tickets. Ticket prices for the Barn Jam include: $25 General Admission, Child; $50 General Admission, Adult; and $500 VIP Patron / Furlanthropist, which includes entry into the VIP Lounge (with complimentary food and beverages), preferred seating at the Barn Jam, and their name on the sponsor signage at the event. Seats for the 100 Point and Cult Wine Dinner are $1,200 per seat.
The animoré weekend benefit was born out of an idea from Alaqua’s Founder Laurie Hood to create a community event combining music with excellent food and wine in support of animal welfare. For hundreds of years, music has enhanced our souls and holds a special spiritual power for engaging our senses. Interactions with animals also have powerful effects on the human spirit and body.
As such, one of our goals for our future home and its unique environment is to be an inspiration for creating a kinder, more empathetic, and healthier society by healing animals and people. We believe that this inaugural animoré festival does just that – bringing people together through music and engagement to help heal and give animals in Alaqua’s care second chances at life, happiness, and most of all, love.
INAUGURAL BARN JAM PERFORMERS:
Billy Dawson
Billy Dawson is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, entertainer, author and motivational speaker. Nashville Industry Music Awards awarded him with Artist of the Year, Best Country Male Vocalist, and Best Country Live Performer. He is the author of Amazon best seller “You Never Know,” and was also the winner of the iHeart Radio “Get Discovered” National Competition. Dawson has played with many artists including Lee Brice, Lady Antebellum, One Republic, Thompson Square, Toby Keith, Colt Ford, Craig Morgan, and many more.
Aaron Barker
Aaron Barker is a multi-hit songwriter with hits that spans 3 decades. He has written hit songs for George Strait including “Baby Blue,” “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” and “Love Without End, Amen.” Other hits include “Not Enough Hours In The Night” by Doug Supernaw, “Watch This” and “You’re Beginning To Get To Me” by Clay Walker, and “What About Now” by Lonestar. His songs have been cut by Tyler Farr, Willie Nelson, Trace Adkins, Oak Ridge Boys, and more. He is also the writer and singer of many commercials for the Blue Bell Ice Cream Company, including “Have Yourself A Blue Bell Country Day.
Jon Nite
Jon Nite is a CMA and ACM award winning singer/songwriter who has written 14 top ten hits for American music’s top artists. Jon’s songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, David Nail, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Phillip Phillips, Chase Rice, Jake Owen, Michael Ray, Adam Craig, Darius Rucker, Gloriana, and many more. His hits include “What Ever She’s Got” by David Nail, “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses, “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, “Beachin” by Jake Owen, “Strip It Down” by Luke Bryan, “Noise” by Kenny Chesney, and “Think A Little Less” by Michael Ray.
Eric Lindell
With his raspy, soulful voice and instantly memorable original songs, roots-rocking multi-instrumentalist Eric Lindell is a true one-of-a-kind talent. Mixing West Coast rock and swampy Gulf Coast R&B with honky tonk country and Memphis soul, Lindell creates American roots music that is both surprisingly fresh and sweetly familiar. Lindell has collaborated and shared stages with John Fogerty and Jackson Browne, and is a founding member of Dragon Smoke with Ivan Neville.