22nd Annual Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival highlights the summer with the New Belgium Corn Hole Championship, 13 Bluegrass Bands and Craft Beer Sampling from 40+ Breweries and much more!
The longest running craft beer event in the state, the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival, returns Aug. 4-5 to Keystone Resort with 45 breweries, 13 bands on 3 different stages and the ultimate Corn Hole Championship with New Belgium Brewing Company. You also won’t want to miss the swing set bar complete with oversized lawn games and an interactive sour seminar courtesy of New Belgium.
“The Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival continues to be our most popular festival of the summer at Keystone,” says Maja Russer, director of events and marketing for the Keystone Neighbourhood Company, the organization that produces the festival along with five other events throughout the summer. “This is our 22nd year and we’ve teamed up with New Belgium to bring new events like the corn hole competition at Warren Station, a Sour Session Seminar and bring back a fan favorite – the Fat Tire Hangout featuring a swing set bar, lawn games and, of course, New Belgium beer. It’s the best of summer living in the mountains, all in one spot.”
Another highlight, says Russer, is the craft beer sampling in River Run Village with 40+ breweries and an estimated 150 varieties of beer. Participating breweries include Colorado natives like – New Belgium Brewing, Boulder Beer Company, Eddyline Brewery, Telluride Brewing Company, Upslope Brewing, Lone Tree Brewing Company and Joyride Brewing Company – as well as Summit County locals like – Pug Ryan’s, Dillon Dam, Breckenridge Brewery, The Baker’s Brewery and, the newest addition, Angry James Brewing Company.
It’s not just a beer festival, though. True to its name, the festival features some of the top performers and bands in bluegrass – for free.
North Carolina duo, Mandolin Orange, is back this year to play Saturday and headline Sunday on the main stage in River Run Village. The Lil Smokies will also put on a can’t miss performance when they headline the Saturday concert line up. These bands are joined by Monocle Band, Old Salt Union, Ragged Union, Masontown, Cicada Rhythm, The Lonesome Days, Head for the Hills, White Water Ramble, and Brent Cobb.
To kick off this epic weekend of bluegrass, Shaky Hand String Band will perform on Friday night at Warren Station’s “Eat, Drink, Pick” Beer Maker’s Pairing with New Belgium Brewing. The event features New Belgium beers matched with six dishes prepared by Summit County favorite, Chef Chris Rybak. Tickets are $60 per person in advance, $70 at the door at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3.
The main event starts at noon on Saturday, Aug. 4 in River Run Village with the New Belgium Beer Garden, food booths and the Kidtopia Kidzone. Craft Beer Sampling begins at 1 p.m. and continues until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission to the festival is free. Purchase a Beer Glass Pass for access to the craft beer sampling. New Belgium beers will also be available to buy at the Beer Garden a-la-carte. Must be 21 or over to purchase. Don’t forget about the delicious food available from local vendors. Each Food Tasting Ticket costs $1 and ticket amounts per dish vary per food vendor tent.
$40 ($45 at the gate) One-Day Beer Glass Pass
- Official Sampling mug
- Unlimited tasting for one day (Saturday or Sunday)
$75 ($80 at the gate) Weekend Beer Glass Pass
- Official Sampling mug
- Unlimited tasting for two days on Saturday AND Sunday
