After a sell-out inaugural fundraiser event in 2017, Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club brings back Brew Skies Beer and Food Festival for 2018 with double the number of beer and food vendors to serve another sell-out crowd of more than 800 attendees this Saturday in the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens from 5-9 p.m. The festival features a home brew competition, local breweries and a food competition for amateur and professional cooks.
Proceeds from the event support the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club’s local and global service projects, including programming and material support for Hixson area elementary schools, scholarships for Chattanooga area students to participate in study abroad experiences and clean water and sanitation projects in rural Haitian villages.
“We’re so excited to bring Brew Skies back this year -- bigger and even better than our inaugural event,” says Kathryn Winland, Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club member and event chair.
“The festival focuses on local home brewers, breweries and cooks, because our Rotary Club works hard to build a sense of both local community and global citizenship.”
Home brewers will share their wares to compete for people's choice, judges' choice and most spirited team awards. Regular and early admission tickets are sold out, but food-only “designated driver” tickets remain available for $15.
“Brew Skies is the only local festival where you can sample a wide variety of local beers that can’t be bought in any store, plus try out the best our local craft breweries have to offer,” says Natalie Cook, Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club member and festival committee member. “The highlight of this festival really is the creativity and enthusiasm of the home brewers and the focus on local beer, whether brewed in a neighbor’s home or a craft brewer’s small batch. Each of them loves to chat with attendees about their creations and get ideas for their next creative endeavor with mash and hops.”
Major sponsors of the 2018 festival are Food City, Atlantic Capital Bank, Fletcher Bright Company, Kelly Subaru and Virginia College.
Next year’s festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2019 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.