Beer festivals are about one thing: celebrating suds. Here are the best in the region:
Brewgrass Festival
September 21
Asheville, N.C.
brewgrassfestival.com
Basics: There’s a reason this festival typically sells out the same day it goes on sale. A crisp fall day in the mountains of western North Carolina is celebrated with the sweet nectar of 40 craft breweries including local favorites from Asheville’s overflowing local beer scene like Green Man and French Broad. The soundtrack in the background is top-notch picking from a handful of bluegrass bands.
Bands: Still to be announced but expect a mix of progressive and traditional string pickers on the rise. Last year featured Head for the Hills and Town Mountain.
Set Break Escape: You only have seven hours, so it might be best to prep for the beer guzzling with a little exercise. Just 15 minutes from downtown, the 6,000-acre Bent Creek Experimental Forest has 44 miles of well-maintained trails, including designated stretches of singletrack for mountain biking.
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North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival
May 11
Huntersville, N.C.
If you like to drink and dance, head to Huntersville for this 10-hour day of sampling the goods from more than two dozen craft breweries and enjoy a stacked line-up of roots music. Drink suds from Highland, Mother Earth, Duck Rabbit, while catching the sounds of Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, and Sol Driven Train.
ncbrewsmusic.com
Beer City Festival
June 2
Asheville, N.C.
You get six hours to sample the goods from three dozen craft breweries at the Roger McGuire Green in downtown Asheville. Plus tunes from Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and more.
beercityfestival.com
Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest
June 22-23
Leesburg, Va.
In addition to a roster of 60 craft breweries, this two-day festival at Morven Park features local music, food, and plenty of regional arts and crafts vendors.
novabrewfest.com
Microfestivus
August 10
Roanoke, Va.
Sample 120 craft beers from around the region and beyond at this big street party near Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke. In addition to the micro libations, there will be live music and food vendors.
microfestivus.squaresociety.org
Top of the Hops
September TBD
Charlottesville, Va.
Local brewery Starr Hill helps host this annual beer fest at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion at the end of the Downtown Mall. Brew fiends get four hours to taste more than 150 craft beers from around the world.
topofthehopsbeerfest.com
Check out the rest of our Outdoor Festival Guide and our Southern Brew Guide for more great beers!
