Sorry kids, you must be 21 or over to go to the Bulldog Bash, the annual fundraiser for the WCHS athletics department hosted by the Booster Club. The event will take place on Saturday, March 14 at The Barking Dog in Bethesda. From 6:30 to 10 p.m., attendees can bid on silent auction items, eat appetizers, participate in the “50/50 raffle” and enjoy good company.

“It’s so difficult to have conversations with parents during [sporting] events because there is so much going on, so this gives me the opportunity to do so,” Athletic Director Jesse Smith said.  “It’s also a great time to spend with all of the coaches and see them in one place.”

Last year, the event was held at Bar Louie on Feb. 2, and hosted around 200 guests. Parents, coaches and administrators were in attendance for a night of fundraising and celebration of the athletics department. Most of the money raised last year was spent on a new bulldog mascot costume. The funds that will be raised this year have not been assigned to anything in particular yet.

“At the moment we don’t have the money marked to be spent on any one item or project,” Smith said. “Everything raised will go into the Booster account and then I’m sure I’ll find ways to spend it on the teams and facilities.” 

The event was originally slated to return to Bar Louie, but the venue closed due to bankruptcy and the boosters had to quickly find another location.

“We called The Barking Dog the day we found out Bar Louie closed and they were ready to jump in and host our event,” standing committee chair of Booster Club galas Lee Stern said. “The space is perfect!”

Each year, a silent auction is held at the event to raise money for the athletics program. This year, the items include “Hamilton” tickets, Billie Eilish tickets, lobster dinners, indoor skydiving sessions, SAT tutoring sessions, themed baskets from Bulldog sports teams, restaurant gift cards, wine tasting events, sports tickets and many more. On top of silent auction items and ticket prices, the “50/50” raffle is another way the Booster Club plans to raise money. You buy a raffle ticket and if your ticket is selected, you win half of the money the raffle brings in and the rest goes to the Booster Club. 

“There are always so many wonderful things from sports tickets, to gift cards and even trips some years. The teams and boosters do a great job of putting this all together,” Smith said.

Mark your calendars for the Bulldog Bash on March 14 and join an evening dedicated to celebrating all of the WCHS athletics programs. 

“We hope this event will make a lot of money for the Booster Club, which supports all of our athletes at WCHS,” Stern said. “The more we make, the more we have for new equipment, uniforms, field maintenance, etc. We also are confident this event will be super fun! There will be good food, great drinks, amazing people, fantastic auction items and our athletes will all benefit!”