Attendees will find new sampling and entertainment options at the 26th Annual Summer Beer Festival presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild – a highlight of Michigan Beer Month, which is July. This year’s event will be held on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 – including a special concert with “Appalachian Psychedelic Bluegrass” band Keller and the Keels – at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti’s Historic Depot Town.
Friday night will operate as it has in the past, from 5-9pm, with attendees receiving 15 tokens each good for a 3-ounce sample beer from some of the finest breweries in Michigan (additional tokens are available for purchase). Musical entertainment will be Act Casual, along with DJ Prophet Ecks. Friday admission is $55 in advance ($65 the day of and/or at the gate).
Saturday’s festival will be formatted with a traditional tasting session from 3-6pm, including access to the Keller and the Keels show that evening. Full access tickets for Saturday are $60 in advance ($70 the day of and/or at the gate) and include 15 tickets per person for beer sampling.
Beginning at 6pm, the festival moves into concert mode. Beer samples will no longer be available, but a variety of full-sized Michigan beers can be purchased utilizing any remaining sampling tickets from earlier in the day. Additional tickets will also be available for purchase.
Those wishing to attend just the concert can do so for $40 per person in advance ($50 the day of and/or at the gate). No beer tickets are included with this option, but they may be purchased on site. Gates open at 6pm for the concert with the opening act – Supercrunch – taking the stage at 7pm, followed by the headliner Keller and the Keels. The festival will wrap up at 10pm.
Food will be available for purchase both days of the festival from vendors throughout the park.
Formed in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild is the non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the local beer industry. The Guild hosted its first festival in July 1998 and today hosts four festivals that are produced for the industry, by the industry. Each of its festivals are inclusive events open to those 21 years or older. Festivals are held rain or shine.
With close to 300 member breweries, the Michigan Brewers Guild is a network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 14,000 full-time jobs to the state, collectively brewing more than 455,000 barrels of beer with a total economic impact of over $2 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #9 in the nation—supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”