A new luxury race-day celebration is coming to Central Pennsylvania this summer as the Belmont Bourbon Bash debuts at Ironstone Ranch at Stone Gables Estate on Saturday, June 6 from 4-8 p.m. The inaugural event will combine bourbon tastings, culinary experiences, race-day fashion, and entertainment while supporting the launch of STAGES Foundation.
Inspired by the traditions of the Belmont Stakes, the Belmont Bourbon Bash will feature the Belmont Bourbon Barrel Trail, where guests will sample signature bourbon cocktails and chef-created culinary pairings from restaurants and bourbon partners throughout the evening and vote for their favorites “The Crowned Jewel” Best Bourbon Cocktail & Culinary Pairing.
Beyond the culinary experience, the event will feature a variety of curated race-day experiences including a VIP Around the Track Train ride experience with champagne, a Winner’s Circle Cigar Lounge, games and luxury brand activations including the unveiling of the 2026 Porsche Cayenne co-sponsored by Porsche Mechanicsburg and AutoHaus Lancaster Porsche (a first for two dealerships). Enjoy Live entertainment by The Moonlighters Band and DJ by Ross Productions, Silent Auction, and race-day fashion including hat contests inspired by the Belmont Stakes, along with the live race.
The event supports the launch of STAGES Foundation, a new organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating life-changing diagnoses through advocacy, education, and resources, in partnership this year with Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center Palliative Care Department.
“In 2019, when my sister Amy’s health began to decline significantly, our family was told she would likely never walk again and that her future would be in a skilled nursing facility. At just 35 years old, that reality was devastating. As she declined not only physically but cognitively, many of the decisions and next steps fell on our family. We weren’t just facing a diagnosis, we were trying to navigate a system that had no road map for families like ours.”
We asked for help, and for a psychologist for support, because she was clearly struggling emotionally. We asked, “Where do we go? What do we do?” and were met with, “You have to figure it out” as those resources did not and still do not exist.
I said to her doctor, “You have speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, but no mental health therapy, which is the most important,” and he said, “You’re right.” In that moment, we realized something deeply concerning: the resources simply didn’t exist to help patients and families navigate a life-changing diagnosis,” said Melissa Miller of Hershey, founder of STAGES Foundation.
The mission also extends to strengthening patient rights and improving oversight across the healthcare system. We advocate for responsible Power of Attorney (POA) practices, emotional support rights, and ethical safeguards to ensure no patient is isolated and no family is silenced during critical moments of decision-making. It’s important not to wait until you are faced with a serious illness or life-changing diagnosis to determine who will serve as your Power of Attorney and make decisions on your behalf.
Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, STAGES Foundation ensures that every patient’s voice is honored, every family is supported, and every decision is made with dignity, and I started this Foundation to honor my sister to keep her present while leaving a legacy.
Organizers are currently accepting restaurant partners, bourbon partners, sponsors, and volunteers as planning for the inaugural event continues.
Tickets and additional event details are available: belmontbourbonbash.com
Some of the highlights of the Belmont Bourbon Bash include:
• The Bourbon Barrel Trail featuring restaurants and bourbon brands
• Signature bourbon cocktail competition: The Crown Jewel
• VIP Around the Track Train Experience
• Fashion and Best Hat Contest
• Winner’s Circle Cigar Lounge
• Luxury brand activations
• Porsche Cayenne unveiling
• Live music and entertainment
• Raffles and curated experiences
For tickets and more information, click this link.
