Bayboro Brewing Funds Thanksgiving Meals for 600 Veterans at November 7 Bash

St. Petersburg residents can access free meals, drinks, and haircuts this Saturday while contributing to a local veteran support fund. Bayboro Brewing, a veteran-owned craft brewery at 2390 5th Ave S, hosts its annual Veterans Day gathering from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The event operates both indoors and outdoors, offering live music and food from local vendors.

The primary financial goal of the day is to provide Thanksgiving meals for 600 recently homed veterans and their families. This initiative is run by the nonprofit Hearts Behind the Heroes. A $50 donation covers the cost of a full Thanksgiving dinner for a veteran and a family of four. The brewery supports this effort through a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and a direct "Buy A Vet A Meal" fund.

Patrons who identify as military veterans drink free for the duration of the event. This benefit is part of Bayboro’s ongoing "Buy A Vet A Beer" tab system, which allows non-veteran guests to contribute to the free drinks. Scotty’s Barbershop is also on-site, providing free haircuts to veterans throughout the day.

The menu features the brewery’s standard smoked meats alongside specific festival dishes such as jambalaya and cowboy beans. The bar serves a mix of craft beer and cocktails. Local bands perform in the venue, while local vendors set up stalls to sell goods to attendees.

Bayboro Brewing has established itself as a local hub for craft beer and barbecue. The business operates with a focus on supporting local arts and veterans. The November 7 event serves as both a social gathering and a targeted fundraising drive for the upcoming holiday season.

The free admission policy allows for a wide attendance base, with costs for attendees coming only from optional purchases of food, non-veteran drinks, or voluntary donations to the raffle and auction. The event concludes at 6:00 p.m., after which the brewery reverts to its regular operations.

Hearts Behind the Heroes aims to feed 600 families in total. The $50 price point for a family meal is fixed for the duration of the fundraiser. Attendees can contribute to the "Buy A Vet A Meal" fund directly or through the silent auction items provided by local partners.