For the second straight year, Summerfest will feature a festival within the festival.
And once again, it involves beer.
The Fountain Valley Summer Suds Brewfest is set for 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22 during Summerfest and will feature more than 80 craft beer samplings from 45 vendors.
Summerfest is free but admission to the Brewfest is $35 for general admission and $45 for VIP tickets (early admission at 2 p.m.). If you didn’t purchase your Brewfest tickets online, cost is $45 at the gate; $55 at the gate for the VIP event.
You’ll get a commemorative event tasting glass as well as a 12-month subscription to “The Beer Connoisseur Magazine.”
Live music will be provided by The Microphone Doctors, Outerwave, and Casey Sullivan and Friends.
According to the Brewfest website, you’ll be able to visit the “giant party game arena for some friendly competition, engage with beer magicians and feast on some of Southern California’s best food vendors cuisine.”
Truthfully, I think a lot of beer lovers are considered beer magicians because they can make beer disappear.
At any rate, the first Summer Suds Brewfest was a great success, prompting this year’s expanded presentation.
Summerfest, as I’ve mentioned often, is the biggest event in Fountain Valley. So just a quick reminder of the particulars: Summerfest runs Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 23 at Fountain Valley Sports Park. Admission is free, but there is a parking charge.
The 11th annual Summerfest features continuous main stage entertainment, carnival rides, food booths, a Saturday night fireworks show and the FV Classic Car & Truck Show.
Main Stage entertainment will feature fan favorites Thank-U-Drive Thru, Mark Easterday, Bruno and the Hooligans and tribute bands Urgent (Foreigner) and Queen Nation, among others. Check fvsummerfest.com for specific days and times.
And check out the local entertainment – vocalists, bands, dance groups and more – performing on the Community Stage all four days.
Also new is a dunk tank, designed to raise funds for nonprofits and schools.
If you go
Summerfest hours: June 20, 5 to 10 p.m. ($2 Ride Night — typically the busiest night of the event); June 21, 5 to 11 p.m. ($5 drink specials/live bands/Community Stage); June 22, 2 to 11 p.m. (13th annual Classic Car & Truck Show starts at 7 a.m. and a fireworks show will begin at dusk); Sunday, 2 to 10 p.m.