Last year a small group of Licking County brewers and restaurateurs teamed up for a week celebrating local food and beer. After a successful inaugural event, which received the 2017 Explore Licking County Tourism Impact Award, they’re planning an even bigger and better beer week for 2018.

The second Licking County Tasty Buns and Craft Beer Week kicks off this Saturday, March 24 and runs through Saturday, March 31. The week kicks off with a tapping party and concert at Thirty One West (31 W. Church Street in Newark.) Doors open at 7pm with music from The Wayfarers and The Bug Hounds starting at 8pm. Tickets for the kickoff party are available online for $10.

The featured beer for the kickoff event and all of TBCB week is a collaboration brew called Nine of Hearts, a California Common made with local honey and brewed at the Homestead Beer Company in collaboration with nine Licking County breweries: Homestead, Three Tigers, Dankhouse, Buck’s, Buckeye Lake, Granville, Trek, 1487 and Earthworks.

Additional events during TBCB week will include an Art & Beer Mashup at Art@43023 on March 27, a Cupcake Bake Off on March 28 at Explore Licking County, A Paint & Sip at Moe’s Original BBQ in Granville on March 28, and the Craft Beerfest and Food Truck Rally on March 31 to close the week.

During the week, participating restaurants and food trucks throughout the county will also have $6 sandwich specials, which you can wash down with a pint of Nine of Hearts. A full list of featured sandwiches, events and more about Tasty Buns and Craft Beer Week can be found online at lickingeats.com/tbcbweek.