Cocktails at the Castle: New twist on favorite tradition continues this year

The Mercer Museum’s annual fall fundraiser Cocktails at the Castle returns to Doylestown from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, for a night of culinary delights and tasty cocktails, all in support of the Mercer Museum’s education programs, exhibitions, and community initiatives.
Guests can spend an evening on the grounds of the Mercer Museum with specialties from some of Bucks County’s best culinary purveyors, along with craft cocktail creations and exceptional entertainment.
The evening begins with a “Pine Street Stroll” cocktail hour, where guests can enjoy “an elaborate selection” of appetizers from Jeffrey A. Miller Catering and the distinct musical sounds of Bronwyn Bird and Justin Nawn on guitar and nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish instrument.
After cocktail hour, local restaurant and catering partners will serve their specialties to the attendees. This year’s partners include Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar, Empanada Mama, Edible Arrangements of Doylestown, The Lucky Cupcake Company, Le Macaron French Pastries of Doylestown, McCaffrey’s Food Markets, Nothing Bundt Cake – Warrington, Pierre’s Chocolates, and Sweet Victory Gluten & Dairy Free Treats – with more to come.
Event attendees can also enjoy sampling a curated list of craft cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages while listening to the music of the David Gustafson Band.
The Mercer Museum’s volunteer event committee, chaired by Maureen Carlton and Lin Hodgdon, is excited to once again provide a new twist on the Cocktails at the Castle tradition. According to Hodgdon, “In 2020, Cocktails by the Castle was a message of better days to come at a difficult time in our community. This year’s event continues with that hope and resilience.”
Carlton added, “In 2020, we were so excited to be a small part of re-engaging our friends and supporters in a worthwhile and fun cause. In 2021, we are just as excited to bring a bit of fun and social engagement to our community, all while supporting the Bucks County Historical Society.”

In addition to the event, an important fundraising component of Cocktails at the Castle is the online silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind experiences and unique packages, all to benefit the Bucks County Historical Society.
This year’s selection of unique auction experiences and deluxe offerings includes something for everyone: A one-week vacation on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico, a romantic getaway at the Joseph Ambler Inn, a private catered dinner in the Mercer Museum’s original library, a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Mercer Museum’s collections, a 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Television, buzzworthy spirit gift baskets, brewery tours, golf outings, artwork, family outings, local dining and shopping adventures, and so much more.
Bidders do not need to purchase tickets or attend the event and all can bid on auction items virtually. The silent auction will close at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. All auction items will be available for pick up at the Mercer Museum.
Tickets to Cocktails at the Castle are $150 for General Admission and $125 for Bucks County Historical Society members. All tickets include a reserved seat at a community table in the open-sided dining tent, selections from the event’s culinary partners, craft cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages, and musical entertainment.
The event is rain or shine. Tickets are limited, nonrefundable, and non-transferable. This is an outdoor event where masks are optional as per current CDC guidelines. The Bucks County Historical Society will follow CDC guidelines at the time of the event.
Cocktails at the Castle is sponsored by: Wells Fargo Advisors; BLBB Charitable; Linda B. Hodgdon; Penn Color; Penn Community Bank; A to Z Party Rental; C&N Bank; Central Bucks Dental Medicine; Curtin & Heefner; Dontech; Econsult Solutions; ESCA Blast; Susan E. Kane; William and Laurie Schutt; Pat Tagliolini, Realtor; Tom Thomas; QUIRE; Bucks County Community College; Maureen and Mark Carlton; Doris Hart Carr, in memory of George M. Carr III; Heather Cevasco and John Platek; DunlapSLK; Eastburn and Gray; Gail Linenberg and John Ortolf; Brian and Louise McLeod; Natech Solutions; Michelle A. Pedersen; Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co.; Rockwood Wealth Management; Taffy and Fred Schea; Lisa Kristin Soren; STAT Waste Solutions; Thompson BMW; Andrea Tucker; and the official media partners Bucks County Herald and River Towns Magazine. Additional support has been provided by Vizi.
For event and auction information and to purchase tickets, visit mercermuseum.org/cocktails.

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