Summer has officially arrived in the capital! How do we know this? Because it’s the Orleans Craft Beer Festival this weekend! The annual event in the east continues the tradition of unofficially launching the season with local brews and local bands this weekend, with sessions Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening. (If you’re looking to score some tickets, we are running our own ticket giveaway for two passes to the Saturday afternoon session!)
Showcasing almost forty breweries and distilleries both local and regional, there is bound to be an offering for every palate. From stellar locals including Overflow, Spark and Broadhead, to those on the outskirts like Perth, Calabogie, Whitewater and beyond, every type of craft beer will be on tap across the grounds.
But if beer is not your drink of choice, fear not, as the Beer Festival has more than just suds. Award winning distilleries will be serving up various spirits well worth exploring and finding new favourites – especially for those looking to replace their American selections with homegrown options. Between Dunrobin Distilleries, Blackfly coolers, Saunders Cider, among others, festival-goers will have plenty of options to inspire their inner mixologist.
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To help absorb all those liquids, local food vendors will be on site, so you can count on a Golden Fries poutine, a Meatings sandwich, a slice from The Dough Bros, or a La Ha Taco to hit the spot. Don’t forget to save some room for a Mavericks Donut to cap it all off!
And what would drinks be without some tunes? The festival will host live artists for each session, with Chris Labelle, The Velocitys kicking things off Friday night. Saturday afternoon will focus on covers by Man! I Feel Like Shania, followed by Hip tribute Little Bones, with the evening session hosting Silver Creek and the East Coast Experience. A Saturday Night outdoor kitchen party with cold beer and Maritime tunes? No surprise that session sells out every year!
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As always, this event is well worth the short trip out to Orleans to enjoy the neighbourhood block party vibes, but if you’re unable to make the trek (which will be incredibly easier once the O-Train extension is up and running!) festival organizers will be organizing a sister event this September in Kanata, so hopheads take heed – and mark your calendars for both!
Tickets for the Orleans Craft Beer Festival are $25, and are available here. Sessions One (Friday 6-11pm), and Two (Saturday 12-5pm) are still available, but Session Three (Saturday 6-11pm) tickets are only available as part of The Brew Donkey Experience ($95).
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