LOLO returns to Hub City Brewing to raise money for RIFA

This year marks the seventh year of Lauren “LOLO” Pritchard putting together a Christmas show for fans.

Over the previous six years, it’s progressed from a simple free show for fans to a fundraiser for Regional Inter-Faith Association’s Snack Back Pack Program to a Christmas concert and brunch with a silent auction at Hub City Brewing Company (250 West Main Street in Downtown Jackson).

The new aspect this year is the production has expanded to two shows, one on Dec. 11 and the second on Dec. 18.

“We scheduled the first one on Dec. 11, and it sold out in 19 hours,” Prichard said. “And then I had a number of people who’ve supported this event from the first year who weren’t able to get a ticket.

“I was talking with (Hub City Brewing owner Jerry Corley) about all that thinking there was nothing we could do, and he was like, ‘Well good for you I went ahead and blocked off the next Sunday for a second show.’ So I was very glad he saw a need for that before I did.”

Both brunches are sold out, but a few general admission tickets for both shows that don’t include the brunch catered by Rock N’ Dough Pizza are available for purchase.

“I’m really appreciative of the community for supporting what we’re doing here because before we get to a silent auction or raffle, we’ve already raised $21,000,” Pritchard said. “So now we’re just adding to that total when we get to Sunday and then even more the following week.”

Pritchard said that first show in 2016 was put together in about three days when she said she’d like to do a Christmas show in Jackson, even though she hadn’t moved back home yet and spent most of the year on the road touring.

“We had 400 people that night, and it was for free, and I thought how much money we could raise to help someone or a charity if we’d just charged $5 a head,” Pritchard said. “That money could’ve helped someone.”

So the next year, they did charge for a show in The Carnegie that grew each year until the pandemic hit, and they had to rethink how they were going to do the fundraiser that year.

That’s when Hub City Brewing and the brunch came into the picture.

“It’s a Christmas show, so I want it to be something everyone can come to and be inclusive, and this celebration brunch was a hit from the start,” Pritchard said.

Both events start at 11 a.m. with the serving of brunch at 11:30 a.m. and the concert starting at 12:30 p.m.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news