Atlanta is one of the most popular destinations in America, with more than 35 million visitors in 2016, making it the perfect location for your next Southern adventure. The city is a diverse destination, complete with a variety of world-class attractions such as the Atlanta History Center, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the College Football Hall of Fame. It will only take you one trip to realize why the city’s residents refer to it as “The Capital of the South”.
If you decide to visit the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest this year, be sure to check out our list of Georgia Resorts for your stay.
The Atlanta Summer Beer Fest is one of the city's premier beer events, and it will take place June 17 at Historic 4th Ward Park, about a mile and a half northeast of downtown. The event will feature more than 200 beers, ciders, and wines from Georgia and the entire country. A cover band will perform on the event's main stage, and a DJ will play music inside the event’s new air conditioned tent. A variety of merchandise will be on sale in the marketplace area, including everything from clothing to beef jerky. The event will also feature a spectrum of food vendors selling festival fare and cold treats. We got the opportunity to interview Kari Weaver, Director of Events for the Atlanta Beer Festivals, to learn more about this unique beer festival.
RAL: How long has the event been running?
KW: This is the 9th annual Atlanta Summer Beer Festival. Our first event was in the parking lot of a restaurant in 2008, with about 700 attendees.
RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?
KW: We are expecting between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees to come out for a fun-filled day.
RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?
KW: Our events are 21+, and attract couples, singles, groups celebrating special occasions, and anyone who loves beer and a good time!
RAL: What makes this event unique?
KW: We will be serving over 200 beers as well as a selection of wine and ciders. We will have a great cover band that will have you singing along to the music in addition to a DJ who always gets our crowd moving their feet. For the first time, he will be performing in a large air conditioned tent, which will be great to avoid that warm summer sun!
RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.
KW: There will be five hours to make your rounds through the 20+ tents serving tasty beers from local breweries, craft breweries, and brands from across the United States. There will be plenty of vendors with great merchandise to check out ranging from beer soap, candles in reused wine bottles, t-shirts, sunglasses, beef jerky, and more.
RAL: What dining options will attendees encounter?
KW: There will be seven delicious food vendors from which to choose, along with snow cones and popsicles to keep you cool. (Food is an additional cost)
RAL: What will the environment be like?
KW: The event will be in the beautiful Historic 4th Ward Park surrounded by green grass and trees.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
KW: There are some hidden Bed & Breakfast spots in the area as well as a wide selection of Airbnb facilities available. The closest large hotel chains are in Midtown or Downtown, which are about 3-4 miles away.
RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?
KW: There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops across the street from the park in the popular Ponce City Market venue that will receive extra business before or after the event. Also, the local breweries are positively affected by the significant amount of kegs that we purchase for the event.
RAL: Does lodging hit max occupancy during the event?
KW: The majority of our patrons are locals who can take a quick Uber/Lyft ride or walk down the popular Beltline Trail, so lodging has never been an issue.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
KW: Everyone who attends our event is sure to have a great time enjoying the delicious beverages, live music, beautiful park, and fun crowd. Also, the city of Atlanta has so much to offer before and after the event!
For more information about the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest, please visit the event website.
Photography Credit: Russell Toon