14th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival
Detroit Fall Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at Detroit's historic Eastern Market. General Admission is 1-6pm, with the gates opening at Noon for a VIP hour for Enthusiast Members. Tickets are $55 per person in advance, plus service fees, and $65 the day of or at the gate (if available).
About the Event:
The Michigan Brewers Guild's Detroit Fall Beer Festival at Eastern Market in October is one of the largest all-Michigan beer tastings around. Attendees can enjoy food from Detroit area restaurants (available for purchase) and listen to a talented line-up of local musicians while sipping fresh, local beers from Michigan breweries.
The Motor City has a long-standing brewing history and in recent years it has been revitalized thanks to a growing interest in the craft beer movement. Established in 1891, the current Eastern Market is one of the nation’s oldest farm markets and the area is rife with brewing history. In its heyday, there were more than 40 breweries in the Detroit area and malt silos still stand as a testament to the rich brewing history – making it the perfect backdrop for the Detroit Fall Beer Festival. View photos of the Detroit Fall Beer Festival here!
Early Admission:
Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast members are invited to enter the festival one hour prior to general admission each day. You must present a valid membership card to enter early.
Token Policy:
The Michigan Brewers Guild utilizes drink tokens and specially marked cups to assure that we comply with Michigan Liquor Control Commission regulations. Festival attendees are expected to willingly provide a token for each and every sample of beer received. We appreciate your cooperation.
15 drink tokens are included with admission and each drink token is redeemable for a 3 oz. sample of beer. Certain specialty beers may require two or more tokens (on account of MLCC regulations prohibiting the selling of alcohol below cost). Additional tokens will be available inside the festival for 50 cents.
FAQs
Please review the FAQ below before attending our festivals for the most current information and updates.
Q: Is parking available at the event?
A: There are parking lots, as well as limited street parking, in and around Eastern Market.
Q: Is the event accessible by public transportation?
A: Yes, there are multiple bus routes that stop near Eastern Market including FAST Gratiot, #6-Gratiot & #31-Mack. The cost is $2 for a 4-hour pass or $5 for a 24-hr pass using cash or phone app.
Q: What is the refund policy?
A: NO REFUNDS. Tickets are non-refundable, per event industry standards such as concerts and sporting events. The festival will occur rain or shine. If you cannot attend for any reason, you may sell or transfer your ticket to someone else, but we do not issue refunds or credits for future events.
Q: I can no longer attend the event. Can I sell my ticket to someone else, or give it to a friend?
A: Yes, tickets are transferrable and you may sell your ticket to someone else for face value plus whatever service fee was charged by Eventbrite, or less. You may also give your tickets away if you like. There is nothing special you need to do to transfer tickets to another person. Michigan Brewers Guild does not permit scalping of tickets, which is illegal. We reserve the right to invalidate any tickets known to have been scalped. Each bar code will only scan one time.
Q: Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
A: You must bring a ticket with a valid QR or bard code with you to be scanned to allow you entry to the festival. This ticket can either be printed or can be the electronic version accessible on your smartphone or wireless device.
Q: I couldn't get a ticket before they sold out and now I want to buy one online. Is that okay?
A: We strongly discourage you from buying a secondhand ticket online from anyone asking higher than face value, or from anyone you don't know and trust. Understand that tickets are emailed to purchasers as PDF files, and there's nothing stopping an unscrupulous individual from selling the same single ticket to many people - but each ticket code will only scan once at the gate. If someone sells you a bad ticket and it does not scan at the gate, you will not be let into the event. The Guild is not responsible for tickets purchased secondhand.
Q: Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
A: All festival attendees must be 21 or older to enter, even if they are designated drivers and are not drinking. A valid government ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) is required for festival entry, with NO exceptions.
Q: Where can I see a Beer List?
A: This will be posted closer to the event date, please check back.
Q: Are Designated Driver tickets available?
A: Yes - if your group is bringing a non-drinking Designated Driver, your driver will be able to buy a DD ticket for $10. This is a non-drinking ticket and your driver will not be allowed to drink any beer at the event. If a person entering on a DD ticket is found to be drinking at the event, they will be ejected from the festival without a refund. Despite being a non-drinking ticket, your Designated Driver must be 21 years or older to enter the event, and must have valid ID.
Q: If I enter on a DD ticket and change my mind, can I drink at the festival?
A: No, anyone entering the festival on a Designated Driver ticket will not be served beer or permitted to drink beer at the event. Any marked Designated Driver found to be drinking beer will be immediately ejected from the event. If you want to drink any beer at the festival, you should plan on buying a full-price drinking ticket.
Q: Can I bring my 18-year-old son/daughter with me as a Designated Driver?
A: No, all guests entering the festival must be 21 or older with a valid photo ID, even if they are entering on a non-drinking DD ticket.
Q: Can I bring my baby / young child with me into the event?
A: Children and infants are not permitted under any circumstances, for their own safety and the safety of our guests. Thank you for understanding that these festivals are adult-only events.
Q: Where can I get a program?
A: Programs are available at the entry gate right after you enter. A PDF version will also be posted on this page the week before the festival.
Q: Can I leave the festival and come back in later?
A: Yes – guest’s hands will be stamped for re-entry.
Q: Where do I pick up my tokens, cup and festival program?
A: You can pick up these items upon entering the festival.
Q: Why do I need to use tokens if I already paid for a ticket?
A: The Michigan Brewers Guild utilizes drink tokens and specially marked cups to assure that we comply with Michigan Liquor Control Commission regulation and have a controlled means of serving beer. All festivals attendees are expected to willingly provide a token for each and every sample of beer received. Thank you for your cooperation which keeps us in compliance with state law.
Q: Is there food available at the festival?
A: Yes. We have a handful of food vendors with beer-friendly menu items for purchase. There are also tables and chairs set up around the festival site for you to sit down to enjoy your meal.
Q: What items am I allowed to bring into the festival with me?
A: Guests may bring food and non-alcoholic beverages with them into the event provided that nothing is in a glass container. Backpacks, hydration packs, coolers, folding camp chairs, picnic blankets and umbrellas are allowed. The following items are not permitted on festival grounds: outside alcohol, marijuana or drugs of any kind, glass containers, grills, portable heaters, children, animals*, bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates/rollerblades, strollers or motorized vehicles.
*With the exception of licensed service dogs as required by the state of Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/FAQs-12-27-16_546656_7.pdf
Q: What are the restroom facilities like at the festival?
A: We have dozens of outdoor port-o-johns set up at the festival, no inside bathrooms are available.
Q: Are there ATMs inside the festival for me to get cash for food, swag and additional tokens?
A: No. There are no ATMs inside the festival, so we encourage you to bring cash with you – especially for the food vendors. The merchandise tent does accept credit cards for swag and additional tokens.
Q. I’d like to exhibit at the festival, is that allowed?
A. No. The Michigan Brewers Guild festivals are limited to our member breweries so no outside vendors (profit or not-for-profit) are allowed. Nor do we allow the handing out of any literature, promotional material, swag or other items by the general public or businesses other than our participating members.
Q. I’d like to bring my food truck or other catering business to the festival, who do I contact?
A. The Michigan Brewers Guild works with its own member breweries that offer food trucks and/or catering options to provide food for our attendees. We do not contract with other independent companies for this service.