Bourbon tastings, hand-rolled cigars, and food from regional chefs are set to fill the two-acre colonial garden behind the William Paca House in downtown Annapolis on September 24, as Historic Annapolis brings back its Blazers, Bourbon & Cigars fundraiser for a 13th year. The event, open to guests 21 and older, runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and will go on rain or shine, with VIP admission opening an hour early at 5 p.m.
According to Eye On Annapolis, tickets range from $150 to $500, with a portion of each price tax-deductible. Those figures line up with the three-tier structure detailed by Historic Annapolis, which lists General Admission at $150, VIP at $250, and Host Committee access at $500. If severe weather forces a cancellation, ticket purchases convert into a fully tax-deductible charitable donation rather than a refund.
Guests will have access to unlimited bourbon and whiskey tastings alongside curated, hand-rolled cigars and a variety of food offerings from regional restaurants and chefs. VIP packages add early entry plus access to a reserved section of the garden, giving ticket holders a quieter vantage point on the historic grounds before the crowd arrives.
A 250th Anniversary Theme and a First-Time Sponsor
This year's gathering carries a “Red, White, and Blue” theme built around America's 250th anniversary, according to Chesapeake Pipe & Cigar. The 13th annual event is co-chaired by local business leaders Jay Walsh and Ermis Sfakiyanudis, the same report notes. Featured smokes for the evening include Fratello's America 250 Limited Edition cigars and the Chesapeake 2025 Limited Edition blend, whose band depicts the historic Thomas Point Lighthouse.
In May, Historic Annapolis announced the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation as the first-ever presenting sponsor for both of the organization's signature annual fundraisers — Blazers, Bourbon & Cigars and the Paca Girlfriends Party. It's a new layer of philanthropic backing for events that have quietly become central to how the nonprofit funds its work protecting the city's colonial-era landmarks.
Why the William Paca House Matters
The event's setting carries its own weight in the story. Built between 1763 and 1765 for William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Maryland governor, the mansion is recognized as the oldest intact example of a five-part Palladian plan home in Annapolis, per the Library of Congress. The house wasn't always treated with such reverence, however.
After being altered in the early 20th century to serve as the entrance to the Carvel Hall Hotel, the William Paca House was slated for demolition before Historic Annapolis stepped in and rescued it in 1965, restoring both the mansion and its garden, according to the National Park Service. The property earned National Historic Landmark status on November 11, 1971, per the National Register of Historic Places.
Where the Money Goes
Proceeds from the fundraiser support Historic Annapolis's broader mission: connecting residents and visitors with the city's history, preserving local landmarks, and protecting cultural resources. The organization, founded in 1952 by preservationist Anne St. Clair Wright and a group of concerned citizens, now manages 13 historic sites and holds protective easements on more than 50 properties, maintaining an annual operational budget of roughly $2.5 million, according to Historic Annapolis.
That budget funds a staff of 40 and educational programming that reaches more than 2,500 school children annually through field trips, tours, and other outreach across Maryland, the same source notes. Anyone unable to attend the September 24 event can still support that work directly through donations to Historic Annapolis.
The fundraiser arrives amid a broader stretch of Annapolis charity events tied to local history — a library fundraiser later this month is set to auction off private tours of Historic Annapolis properties, including the Paca House itself.
