Take it from me: There is no better way to spend a weekend than drinking good beer and eating free food. If these activities are relevant to your interests, look no further than The Greater Gator Beer Festival. This Saturday, for the price of admission, you get ample helpings of food from local restaurants, premium entertainment, and most importantly - unlimited beer samples from across the country and around the world.
Big national names like Budweiser, Michelob, and Yuengling are sure to be in attendance with beer you already know you love. From the state of Florida, expect to see Keywest Brewery products and one of my personal favorites, Orange Blossom Pilsner. Other domestic craft breweries will be on hand as well, such as Colorado’s Oskar Blues Brewery, New York’s Southern Tier Brewery and Maine’s Shipyard Brewery, makers of the fall favorite, Pumpkinhead.
The only thing more exciting than the selection of domestic beer at your fingertips might be the imported beer available at the festival.
After your first few beers this weekend, you might feel the need to get some solid food in your stomach, and the festival has you covered: Several local restaurants will be on hand with unlimited food to satisfy your hunger and keep your blood-alcohol content in check. This year’s festival will be catered by BubbaQue’s, Panama Joe’s, Hungry Howie’s and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, just to name a few.
To get the most out of your Greater Gator Beer Festival experience, start slow and pace yourself. Think quality over quantity and diversity over familiarity. Aim to try things you’ve never had before and take the time to wait in a line for something you know you want.
Most importantly, have someone pick you up when the event is over. You will be drinking beer for several hours, and if you drink anywhere near your money’s worth, you will not be good to drive. If you somehow fail to plan accordingly, the festival offers a service to take you home at no cost.
The Greater Gator Beer Festival will take place Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Magnolia Parke, 4700 NW 39th Ave. Tickets are $30 online, $35 at the gate and $40 for online-only Instant In passes – this means no waiting in line when you arrive at the event. You can buy $25 advance tickets at Art of Billiards, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Gator Beverage, Gator’s Dockside, Stubbies, Mother’s, Kazbor’s Sports Grille and BJ’s Pub & Grill.
