The festivals keep coming for the Tri-Cities with yet another massive celebration slated for this weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Coquitlam Kinsmen will host their inaugural International Craft Beer Festival at Town Centre Park — an adult-only event that has generated plenty of buzz with cicerones across Metro Vancouver.
Up to 10,000 people are expected for the party that will see more than 50 domestic and import craft breweries offer samples between 1 and 9 p.m.
And among the beers on tap will be the four from Port Moody's own Brewers' Row: Moody Ales, Yellow Dog, Twin Sails and Parkside, which opened its doors last month.
Co-organizers Brent Shaw and Jim Bagan said the Kinsmen have been spreading the word for months: Flyers have been distributed as far as Bellingham and, this past weekend, club members were promoting and selling tickets at the Port Moody Rotary Ribfest and the Ultimate Car Show at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver.
They've also regularly plugged it on the Tri-City radio station CKPM FM and, last Saturday morning, had a spot on Global TV.
On Wednesday night, organizers will host a media launch at the Executive Plaza Inn in Coquitlam.
"My phone has been ringing off the hook with people wanting to know more and come out," said Coquitlam Kinsmen president Howard Grant, adding, "It's our first one so it's going to be a learning process for us."
Grant said proceeds from the beer fest will pay for the new playground at Como Lake Park as well as future capital projects for the community.
But while the fest has the backing of a number of partners — including The Tri-City News — it lacks a major title sponsor.
Shaw and Bagan said they hope businesses will see the success of this weekend's bash and get onboard for next year. "We want to make this a legacy for Coquitlam," Bagan said. "We have been very well supported."
About one-quarter of the $200,000 beer fest is being funded through the city of Coquitlam's Spirit Grant program, of which its income is based on gaming income the municipality receives as host to the Hard Rock Casino.
Besides the tastings, festival guests can also hear music from bands like Cease and Desist and Van Damsel, and Anmore's Greg Drummond who performed at last weekend's Kaleidoscope Festival for the Coquitlam 125 anniversary.
There'll also be activities all day such as bocce, human foosball and life-size jenga.
To cool down, a hydration tent with water misters will be set up. Volunteers from Operation Red Nose will also be on standby to provide transportation and free transit fare will be given out as part of the Safe Ride Home program.
• General admission is $35 or $40 at the gate, or $65 for VIP access (beer and food tokens are not included in the price of the ticket). Visit kinsmencraftbeerfest.com. Volunteers can also sign up via the website.
CONTEST
The Tri-City News is giving away a pair of tickets to the International Craft Beer Festival. Visit our Facebook page to enter by Thursday's deadline.
