The second annual Schuylkill BrewFest is going to be an even bigger party than the first one.
Gina Gargano, executive director of the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, which is hosting Schuylkill BrewFest, said the event has been expanded and will include more activities, for what she anticipates will be a bigger crowd this year.
"Last year, more than 1,000 people came, and this year we are hoping to double that or even triple it," Gargano said.
Festivities will run from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at Joulwan Park in Pottsville. The event, sponsored by D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., is intended to be a celebration of local people, as well as the craft of brewing.
"How fitting that Yuengling and Pottsville - as the home of 'America's Oldest Brewery' - should celebrate the art of beer making," Gagano said.
Of course, you do not have to appreciate beer to enjoy the festivities. There will be other things to drink and daylong live music.
"One of the best things is that we are going to have so much and so many bands," she said, naming the Josef Kroboth Trio, Coaltown Rounders, Gleasons Drift, The Sterling Koch Band and Concrete Rival as acts scheduled to appear.
Beer is, however, an excellent thing to bring to any party, and the various ways it will be celebrated are exciting, Gargano said.
"New for this year, a separate tasting session featuring brews from Yuengling, Breaker Brewing Co., Lion Brewery, Victory Brewing Co., Bullfrog Brewery, Berwick Brewing and Stoudt's Brewing Co., along with 12 fabulous brews on tap for purchase, will ensure you'll get all the crafty creations you desire," she said. "The AHA/BJCP-sanctioned homebrew contest will award ribbons for several category winners and prizes for first-, second- and third-place overall finishers. The sanction is very important as it puts our event in the leagues with the best of them."
Gargano said the event will be held rain or shine.
General admission tickets are $10. General admission with tasting ticket is $25. Tickets are available at the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Union Station, 300 S. Centre St., Suite 100, Pottsville, or online at www.schuylkill.org/BrewFest. You can also call 800-765-7282 for tickets and information. Tickets are also available at Brewer's Outlet and Yuengling Brewery Museum & Gift Shop, both in Pottsville.
Parking will be available at the Schuylkill Health Medical Mall lot, 700 Schuylkill Manor Road, Pottsville; Nativity BVM High School baseball field and at Lessie's Greenhouse and Gift Shop at Avenues, 2 Park St.
"Grab your tickets now and don't forget to bring a chair! This is a celebration you don't want to miss! Cheers," Gargano said.