The 20th annual San Juan Brewfest, sponsored once again by Chevron, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25, in downtown at Buckley Park. This annual event has become very popular over the past several years. Tickets have sold out four years in a row, and they are expected to sell out again this year. Visit SanJuanBrewfest.com to get your tickets today.
The Brewfest started at Purgatory Resort in 1998 and was held over Labor Day weekend on the mountain for its first nine years. In year 10, the event moved to downtown Durango and was managed by United Way of Southwest Colorado and Purgatory Food and Beverage Director Scotty Warren. CookManFood.com assisted United Way for a few years after that, then United Way took over completely. The Durango Business Improvement District has contracted with United Way for the past six years to manage many aspects of the event.
This year’s Brewfest features 50 breweries from all over the nation, including our own six local breweries and Durango Craft Spirits. New this year are Mancos Brewing Company, Wild Edge Brewing Collective from Cortez and Cigar City Brewery out of Tampa, Florida.
The Brewfest also has an amazing music lineup, curated by Evoke Productions. The Yawpers out of Denver are the headlining act, and Strange Americans, also from Denver, opens. These two bands will rock your socks off!
Food is available for purchase from four food vendors (Serious Texas Bar-B-Q, Gosar Sausage, Mountain Stir Fry and Mariana’s Authentic Cuisine), and there will also be several other vendors selling their handcrafted creations and products. These include SewGnar, Colorado ReStrung and Check Outside.
There are several types of tickets available. General admission tickets sell for $35 and allow entry from 1 to 5 p.m., a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited tastings. VIP tickets are nearly sold out; less than 20 remain at the time of this writing. VIPs get lots of extras, including early entry at noon one hour before everyone else, access to the VIP tent during the Brewfest with a small meal from Dough Broughs and shaded seating, plus an invite to a private party the night before the Brewfest with the breweries. The VIP and Brewer’s party will be held at Powerhouse Science Center and features special beers from local breweries plus amazing food from The Yellow Carrot.
Designated Driver tickets are also available. The Brewfest is proud to partner with Celebrating Healthy Communities’ DD program. Also, courtesy of Four Corners Broadcasting, “mocktails” are free for DDs during the event. Special thanks to El Moro Spirits and Tavern, Swing at Dalton Ranch, Mountain Taco and Tequila, Eolus and Seasons for making these special drinks for DDs.
Best of all, the San Juan Brewfest is a fundraising event for United Way of Southwest Colorado.
I am proud to say that the Brewfest has raised $125,000 for United Way over the past five years, not to mention packing the town with 1,000 people visiting for the event.
Go to SanJuanBrewfest.com for more information and to get your tickets before they sell out.
Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District. Contact him at timw@downtowndurango.org.
