If there is one thing Yoopers love to do, it's sample great hand-crafted brews and wines. That's why the industries are finding such a great foothold in this region, and exactly why the
UPtoberfest was born in 2006.
The event is still going strong, with the annual festival coming to Escanaba from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 8. The location will be on a private lot on the 600 block of 1st Avenue North, right behind Hereford & Hops.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the event, and designated drivers get in for free.
"For that, you receive 15 drink tokens to be redeemed for your choice of 50 beers or wines," says Josh Marenger, secretary of the Bay de Noc Brewers, the group that hosts the event and has since 2009. "Additional tokens are available for purchase, but we've found that very, very few people need them."
In addition, there will be refreshments from
Bobaloon's, a favorite local lunch spot.
All of the proceeds of the event are funneled right to the
United Way of Delta County. They had been running the event on their own prior to Bay de Noc Brewers took over. The Brewers, a home brew club based in Escanaba, took over to help plan and run the event.
"Since we are more in tune to the beer industry, we have been able to make this a much better event as well as more profitable for the United Way," says Marenger.
Typical attendance is about 300 to 350 people. This year, the organizers are hoping to hit the 400 mark.
This year will also mark the first year the event will feature nearly 100 percent Michigan beer and wines, a real tribute to the growing craft across the state.
Tickets are not available online, though purchases are and will be held at the will call window. For more information, visit the
tickets link.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Josh Marenger, Bay de Nock Brewers
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