2018 Festival Dates Announced
After a successful, sold-out third year, the Hops in the Hills festival returns for 2018 with a who’s-who of local and regional brewing icons on June 22 and 23 in downtown Maryville, Tennessee.
This fourth annual festival showcasing the area’s finest artisan brews is a not-to-miss event for beer enthusiasts—drawing attendees from across the region.
Hops in the Hills brew week, June 18 to 21, leads up to the main event over the weekend with a week-long “Celebration of Fermentation.” Each day, a different brewery will feature prizes, games, and music for visitors to prepare them for the weekend’s events.
On Friday, June 22, the Hops in the Hills Craft Brew Crawl & Poker Run will be held provided by Knox Brew Tours. The event is a unique way to experience the town’s bars and restaurants and try local and regional beers.
Last year, 46 breweries participated in the festival, appealing to a diverse range of tastes. Just as many breweries are expected to participate in the 2018 festival that will also include live music, food and additional entertainment like The Big BBQ Bash, Napa Classic Car Show and the Smoky Mountain Dock Dogs.
“Hops in the Hills is a wonderful way for people to visit the beautiful Smoky Mountains and experience Maryville’s vibrant, historic downtown and thriving craft beer scene,” said Blount Partnership Tourism Director Kim Mitchell. “It’s an entertaining festival with something for everyone, and we’re thrilled to see it grow each year.”
Blackberry Farm Chief Fermentation Officer Roy Milner has traveled extensively to gather knowledge and expertise in brewing and finds Hops in the Hills showcases the unique craft beer community throughout the region.
“Craft brewing is an art form, and Hops in the Hills provides a great opportunity to celebrate the culture and sense of community it brings to our region,” said Milner. “With such a wide variety of brewery participants, visitors will truly receive a great picture of the craft’s presence in this part of the country.”
The event is part of the Summer on Broadway celebration, a series of events to celebrate the summer season.
A complete list of participating breweries, updated schedule, and link to purchase tickets will soon be available at www.hopsinthehills.com.
