Submitted by Hunter Q. Gresham
Project Coordinator
Blacksburg Brew Do is returning on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with VIP early access at noon on the grounds of historic Smithfield, adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. This will mark the regional festival’s 13th year.
The event will go on rain or shine. As always, the Brew Do will feature the best in craft beers from across the mid-Atlantic, popular food trucks and delicious fare, live music, and a variety of culinary and unique merchandise from Blacksburg, the New River and Roanoke valleys, and beyond.
“We are excited to showcase more than 80 different beers and ciders this year at one of Blacksburg’s favorite fall festivals,” said Ann Cassell, president of The Blacksburg Partnership, the organization hosting the event. “In addition to the fantastic selection from breweries throughout the mid-Atlantic, Blacksburg Brew Do offers attendees the opportunity to try regional food vendors, to encounter a variety of local specialty products, and to listen to some incredible live music.”
Local folk singer/songwriter Lily Comer will kick off the festival entertainment at noon, followed by former Hokie football player and American Idol finalist, Dan Marshall, who is this year’s festival headliner. Marshall opened last year’s festival, prior to his American Idol fame, by performing a number of crowd favorites. Both performers will be featured on the Moss Arts Center Main Stage, which makes use of Historic Smithfield’s blacksmith cabin as the backdrop.
Tickets are now on sale and are available for purchase online at www.blacksburgbrewdo/tickets. Festival attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Regular admission tickets can be purchased on site the day of the festival while VIP tickets are pre-sale only for $70 each.
VIP tickets are for sale to ages 21+ only and are available in a limited quantity. They allow the ticket holder one-hour early access to the festival grounds beginning at noon. Ticket price also includes a full-size pint glass, 20 beer tastings, exclusive access to the VIP Area with specialty tastings not available to regular ticket holders, select VIP amenities, complimentary light snacks, and all the benefits of a regular tasting ticket.
Non-drinking VIP tickets are $25 pre-sale only in limited quantity. They include the VIP tickets benefits except for the pint glass and the tastings.
Regular admission tickets (Ages 21+) are $35 pre-sale and $40 the day of the festival at the gate. These tickets allow access to the festival grounds, 15 beer tastings, the food trucks, culinary and merchandise vendors, live music, and complimentary roundtrip shuttle transportation.
Non-drinking admission only tickets are $10 pre-sale and at the gate.
Children 12 and younger are free with an accompanying adult who must be at least 18 years old..
Photo ID is required for age verification of the tasting attendees. Festivalgoers must be of legal drinking age, must have a ticket for entry, and must receive a sampling wristband to participate in the tastings.
In addition, nearly 200 volunteers are needed for a variety of festival tasks. All volunteers will receive a Blacksburg Brew Do volunteer t-shirt, complimentary access to the festival before or after their shift, and (if 21+ years old) a 6-tasting wristband and a souvenir glass for sampling. To volunteer to help at the festival, visit www.blacksburgbrewdo.com/volunteer.
All proceeds from this event support The Blacksburg Partnership in its mission to improve the quality of life in Blacksburg. The Blacksburg Partnership is a non-profit, independent organization focused on economic development and community improvement with the goal of making Blacksburg a more vibrant place to live, work, learn and play.
Partnership projects include the revitalization of retail districts, NRV Passenger Rail, Blacksburg Young Professionals, and community arts endeavors such as Gobble de Art (the Hokie Birds all over town). In addition, the partnership is known for two signature events: Blacksburg Fork & Cork and the Blacksburg Brew Do.
