Valpo's 1st Annual Beerfest - October 2

This Saturday, October 2nd, will be the first ever BrewFest. The beer-centered event will take place in Downtown Valparaiso, Ind. from 1-5p.m. Sample over 125 different styles of beers from America’s best craft brewers while listening to live music, eating great food, and enjoying home brewer demos.

Brewers included in the fest are: Crown Brewing Co., Figure 8 Brewing, Upland Brewing Co., Blue Moon, People's Brewing Co., Konig Ludwig Weiss, Leinenkugel's, Magic Hat, Lindemans, New Belgium Brewing, New Holland Brewing, North Coast Brewing Co., Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, Woodchuck Draft Cider, Goose Island & many more!

$55 VIP tickets have been sold out, but there are General Admission tickets still left to purchase online for $40. These tickets include a festival sampling glass and unlimited sampling of any and all festival beers. 

There will also be a chance to cast your vote for your favorite Indiana craft beer. BrewFest is awarding the coveted HOOSIER BREW award to the top vote. Each Hoosier brewery is able to enter 2 brews and every BrewFest attendee is able to vote for just one.

Live music will be provided by The Triple Dose Band. Check out the band's info here.
 

Valpo BrewFest says that this Saturday "is a celebration of the great craft beer and the cool people that enjoy it." So, if you're cool enough and you enjoy great craft beer enough, head over to Valparaiso, Ind. and enjoy the festivities a-brewin'! 

Going along with the BrewFest saying, Cheers to Ya!

Any and all questions should be emailed to info@valpobrewfest.com.

Check out the latest issue of TheBeachCoast.com and this month's feature of local Beach Coast breweries.


Written and researched by TheBeachCoast.com - visit our website for more family event information. 

Four Flags Area Apple Festival in Niles, MI Sept.30 - Oct.3

An aerial view of last year's carnival rides.

Family fun can come in big packages this weekend at the Four Flags Area Apple Festival in Niles, Mich.

All events will take place at the corner of Lake and 17th streets near the Niles Airport. This 4-day festival begins Thursday, September 30th and ends Sunday, October 3rd.

Not only is this a family event, there will be a bushel full of activities to make sure no one turns into a crab apple that weekend.

Pageant winners wave in the annual parade.

Events for the weekend include: Miss Apple Festival Pageants, Lip Sync Contest with a cash prize, Trike/Big Wheel Race, Beard & Mustache Contest, Grand Parade, Scarecrow Decorating Contest, Biggest Apple Contest, Log Cutting/Hand Sawing Contest, Seed Popping Contest, Arts & Crafts Fair, Horseshoe Tournament, Golf Tournament and others.

Log Cutting Competition

There will also be live music Friday and Saturday evening with Irv Cass & Friends (an Elvis Tribute Band) on Friday and Steve Azar (Country) on Saturday.

Carnival rides will also be set up for those adventurous enough in the crowd with unlimited ride bracelets costing $20 Thursday & Sunday and $25 Friday & Saturday.

Food and sponsor/vendor booths will be set up on the grounds all weekend to feed the masses.

For more information call 269.683.8870 or email info@fourflagsapplefestival.com.


Written and researched by TheBeachCoast.com - visit our website for more family event information.

Scarecrow Festival - Wanatah, Ind. Sept. 24-26

It's the time of year again for the annual Wanatah, Ind. Scarecrow Festival. This year's festivities will take place from 4p.m. Friday, September 24th through 4p.m. Sunday the 26th. Scarecrow Festival activities for the weekend include:

• arts & crafts
• children rides
• pork chop dinner
• fish fry
• pancake breakfast
• parade
• scarecrow sculpting
• 5K, 3K run/walk
• music/variety acts
• car show & toy show
• vintage baseball game
• Annual Softball Classic

The weekend is full of fun for the whole family, and like the festival's website touts, "whether you're 3 or 93, you're sure to find lots to enjoy at this year's Scarecrow Festival."

Look to the festival website for more information and schedule of weekend events.





Written and researched by TheBeachCoast.com - visit our website for more family event information.

You're off to see the Wizard in Chesterton this weekend

This weekend marks another year of the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton, Indiana. The festival runs from the 17th to the 19th downtown Chesterton on the streets of Broadway & Calumet. Get out your ruby slippers and head to Chesterton for 3 days of whimsical fun.





Some highlight events for the weekend include:

Friday:
Celebrity walk, autographs, Emerald City Party in the Park

Saturday:

5k Run to Oz, Look-A-Like Contest, Oz-Mopolitan Teen Dance, 49 Drive-In showing "Wizard of Oz", Dorothy Birthday Party

Sunday:
Brunch with the Munchkins, Oz Idol Finale, Festival Finale

For an entire event schedule, visit the Wizard of Oz Festival website.

12th Annual Sunflower Fair

This Saturday, September 18th, La Porte, Ind. will host another installment of the Sunflower Fair tradition in NW Indiana.

Sunflowers invade La Porte, Ind!

At this family fun fair attendees will be able to peruse through over 80 craft/collectible booths, participate in an art gallery walk, enjoy kiddie rides, attend an antique auto show, listen to live music, enter a pork/rib cook off and participate in the American Red Cross 5k Run/Walk.

BBQ, sunflowers and sunshine.

This Saturday will be fun for the whole family in downtown La Porte, Ind.

For more information, please visit the fair's website or call Phyllis Jones at 219.362.2084.

Bizarre Bazaar - Sept. 18, Hammond, Ind.

This Saturday, September 18th from 10a.m. - 5p.m., downtown Hammond, Ind. will host the 5th annual Bizarre Bazaar on Hohman Avenue. This full day of fun has free admission for the whole family. Activities offered at the festival will include:

An Elvis look-a-like contest, Bean Bag tournament, Children chess tournament, Guitar Hero contest, Jalapeno Eating contest
Live music, Vendors, Children Games, Art activities, Car show, and a Community-wide yard sale.

To get more information on this fun-for-the-whole-family event, visit the City of Hammond website.

21st Celebration of the Arts - Schoolhouse Shop

Tents set up at last year's Celebration of the Arts.

This weekend on September 18th & 19th from 10a.m - 5p.m., each day, The Schoolhouse Shop will be hosting its annual Celebration of the Arts in Furnessville, Ind. Furnessville is between Chesterton and Michigan City. This outdoor art fair will feature over 30 artists.

Contact James Ruge or Judi Ruge at schoolshop@comcast.net or by phone at 219.926.1551.

Blues, Brews and BBQ, Sept. 18 - St. Joseph, Michigan

Come help St. Joe say goodbye to summer!

On Saturday, September 18th, Beach Coasters will bid summer a farewell by rocking out to the blues and eating BBQ in Downtown St. Joe, Mich.

The events will be taking place at the John E. Howard Bandshell and on Port Street from 12-6p.m.

Along with the BBQ, Round Barn Winery, Brewery, Distillery will be providing the beer.



The live blues music lineup is:

• Oblates of Blues: 12:30 - 2p.m.
• Bryan Michael Fischer Band: 2:30 - 4:00p.m.
• Elwood Splinters Blues Band: 4:30 - 6:00p.m.

There will also be a Bean Bag Tournament in the streets of Downtown St. Joe. Show off your bags skills! Entry is $10/team with an entry deadline the 18th at 11:00a.m. Contact Brian Smith at 269.985.1111 for more information. Say goodbye to summer without tears this year!

14th Annual Fall Fest - Back Road Brewery, La Porte

The Back Road Brewery in La Porte, Ind. will be hosting its 14th Annual Fall Fest - the brewery's biggest event of the year - this weekend. The Fall Fest will last from 1-5p.m. (CST) on Saturday, September 18th at the brewery grounds in La Porte. 

There will be live music from Ein Prosit, a traditional 35-piece German umpa band that will play both waltzes and marches all day. Back Road will use this festival to introduce its Autumn Ale.

Admission is $20 and will also allow attendees to sample 6 NW Indiana brewery beers in the festival's beer tent. Colima Mexican Restaurant will be selling food. Designated drivers get into the event for free and will also receive free chips and soft drinks. All over 21 are invited and all IDs will be checked at the festival's entrance. 

The event coordinators are asking for no children; not even in strollers.

Midwest Zest Fest, Sept. 10-12th, Highland, Ind.

The Midwest Zest Fest starts today and goes through the weekend in Highland, Ind. for 3 days of fun on over 5 acres at Main Square Park. This lemon-themed festival, has many activities for the whole family. The weekend's activities include:

• carnival with carnival rides
• festival food
• arts & craft booths
• live music every day
• contests
• 5K race, 2.5K walk
• King & Queen crowning!

Don't miss the Sour Note Karaoke Bar in the beer tent to show off your singing skills (or lack thereof)! 

Admission and parking are FREE, so bring the whole clan down to celebrate all that is lemon in Highland, Indiana starting today at 4p.m.!

32nd Annual Popcorn Festival Sat, Sept. 11th - Valpo

Having been named the Best of the Region by The Times readers for the past 14 years, the Valparaiso Annual Popcorn Festival has become a September staple for Beach Coast inhabitants. This year's fest is Saturday, September 11th held in the heart of downtown Valparaiso incorporating a theme of "Popcorn in Paradise."

This is Valparaiso's 32nd year hosting the ode to Orville Redenbacher's popcorn legacy which attracts around 50,000 attendees every year making Valparaiso the place to be this weekend.

Look to the skies to see this attraction.

The downtown event will host over 200 arts & crafts booths along with more than 30 food vendors. Events that happen outside the downtown area are the Cutest Baby Contest, Rotary Popcorn Open, and the 20th Annual Kiwanis Hot Air Balloon Show (September 10th and 11th).

There will also be live music on two different stages Saturday along with a kids play place. It'll be fun for the whole family! Go to www.valparaisoevents.com for more information for this weekend's festivities.

Chicago Jazz Festival Sept. 2-5

Today is the start of the 32nd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival which will take place all Labor Day weekend. The concerts will be held in 3 venues around sweet home Chicago in Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center and Grant Park. The festival times for the 4 days are:

• Thursday: 12p.m.-4p.m.
• Friday: 12p.m.-9:30p.m.
• Saturday: 11a.m.-9:30p.m.
• Sunday: 11a.m.-9:30p.m.

All concerts, all 4 days are FREE making this one of the most premiere events for the holiday weekend. The Jazz Festival is Chicago's longest running lakefront music festival which has drawn musical artists Ramsey Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Kurt Elling, Rene Marie along with many other acts for this year's lineup. For more information, please visit the Chicago Jazz Festival website for venue, music and parking information. 

Valpo's Popcorn Fest Sept. 11th

Having been named the Best of the Region by The Times readers for the past 14 years, the Valparaiso Annual Popcorn Festival has become a September staple for Beach Coast inhabitants. This year's fest is Saturday, September 11th held in the heart of downtown Valparaiso incorporating a theme of "Popcorn in Paradise."

This is Valparaiso's 32nd year hosting the ode to Orville Redenbacher's popcorn legacy which attracts around 50,000 attendees every year making Valparaiso the place to be next weekend.

The downtown event will host over 200 arts and crafts booths and more than 30 food vendors. Events that happen outside of the downtown area are the Cutest Baby Contest, Rotary Popcorn Open, and the 20th Annual Kiwanis Hot Air Balloon Show (September 10th and 11th). There will also be live music on two different stages on Saturday along with a kids play place. Fun for the whole family! Go to www.valparaisoevents.com for more information for next weekend's festivities.