June 2008

May 23-June 1: Czech Beer Festival

Location: Prague Fairgrounds, Holesovice, Czech Republic
Highlights: A 10-day gastronomic and cultural event, featuring a wide selection of draft beer from Czech breweries; servers in traditional folk costumes; food, including Czech pork and deil food; cultural program, with daily performances by entertainers and musicians from the country's various regions; venue has room for 10,000 festival-goers.

May 28-June 1: Mondial de la Biere

Location: Windsor Station and Courtyard, Montreal, QC, Canada
Highlights: Fifteenth anniversary event; free admission; more than 350 beers, including 100 new beers and 15 beers brewed especially for the festival; Quebec cider; food items for sale; beer seminars and workshops; cooking demonstrations; a variety of entertainment; popular vote for festival's favorite beer.

May 29-June 1: Castor & Ailsworth Beer Festival

Location: Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor, Peterborough, England
Highlights: More than 20 Real Ales, many from East Anglian microbreweries, seven Real Ciders; live music Friday evening and Sunday afternoon; food, including barbecue; yard of ale competition.

May 31-June 1: Japan Craft Beer Festival–Osaka

Location: Osaka Dome Sky Hall, Osaka, Japan
Organized By: Japan Craft Beer Association and Beer Taster Non Profit Organization
Highlights: More than 120 craft beers available for sampling.

June 2-9: Great Grampian East Beer Festival

Location: Richard Donald Stand, Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, Scotland
Organized By: Aberdeen Grampian & North East Isles Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Ninety Real Ales, with styles ranging from milds to Old Ales and barleywines; ciders, perries, and bottled beers.

June 3-7: Thurrock Beer Festival

Location: Thurrock Civic Hall, Grays, England
Organized By: South-West Essex Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 140 Real Ales, plus 15 Real Ciders and English country wines; hot and cold food at all sessions; a variety of live entertainers; and CAMRA shop; outdoor drinking and smoking area available.

June 5-8: Micro-Brew Tasting at the Curwood Festival

Location: Curwood Castle Park, Owosso, MI
Highlights: Inaugural beer tasting at this festival, with beer from 15 Michigan breweries, some with brewers in attendance; educational program, featuring a tutored beer tasting.

June 5-7: Southampton Beer Festival

Location: Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, England
Organized By: Southern Hampshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival offered more than 80 Real Ales plus ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beers; voting for "Beer of the Festival"; food, live music, and a family area. More details of this year's event will be posted on the branch's website.

June 6-7: Keswick Beer Festival

Location: Keswick Rugby Club, Keswick, England
Presented By: Keswick Lions and Keswick Rugby Club
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 150 beers, including products of Cumbrian breweries, and food and live entertainment. Details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 6-8: Artebirra Pasturana

Location: Pasturana Sportsground, near Novi Ligure, Italy
Organized By: Unionbirrai (beer tasters' organization) from Club Confraternita della Grande Schiuma and Proloco Pasturana
Highlights: A celebration of unfiltered and unpasteurized beer with no chemical additives; more than 40 beers, including some experimental beers, from Italian microbreweries.

June 6-8: Britton Beer Festival

Location: Avon Valley Railway, near Bitton, England
Highlights: Friday night session added this year; Real Ales and ciders from both the region and throughout the U.K., plus bottled beers, served in an 1860s heritage railway station; journeys on vintage Diesel and steam locomotives; hot and cold food.

June 6-7: Rare Breeds Beer Festival

Location: Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch, England
Hosted By: Local branches of the Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 30 Real Ales, plus ciders; family-oriented events, including dancing by the Woodchurch Morris Men and folk music performances.

June 6-7: St. Louis Microfest

Location: Upper Muny, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
Benefit For: Lift for Life Gym
Highlights: Unlimited tasting of more than 50 local, regional, and national microbrewery beers (list TBA on festival website), with international beer highlighted during Friday evening's session; food, live music, VIP area, cigar lounge, silent auction and raffle prizes, homebrew contest, and "People's Choice" awards.

June 6-8: Snowmass Chile Pepper & Brew Festival

Location: Snowmass Village, CO
Highlights: Fifth annual event, featuring chili competitions and tastings; a summer ale competition; two microbrew sampling sessions, with beer from more than 30 breweries; music at Fanny Hill all weekend; and a homebrew competition.

June 6-7: Willow River Blues & Brews Fest

Location: Mary Park, New Richmond, WI
Highlights: Beer from craft breweries from throughout the Midwest; live blues both evenings; food available; beer festival held in conjunction with the Park Art Fair.

June 7: Balmoral Park Brew-Ha-Ha

Location: Balmoral Park, Crete, IL
Highlights: Local, national, and imported beers; thoroughbred racing, including off-track wagering on the Belmont Stakes; food and live music; prize raffle.

June 7: Beer Barons' World of Beer Festival

Location: Schwabenhof Pavilion, Menomonee Falls, WI
Organized By: The Beer Barons of Milwaukee, an organization of homebrewers and beer enthusiasts
Highlights: Fifth annual event; festival venue is an indoor/outdoor facility; more than 200 beers from over 80 breweries, many of them local or regional; presentations on tasting, brewing, and history; homebrewing discussion, demonstrations, and sampling; food available.

June 7: Bloomin' Beer Festival

Location: Irish Cultural Center, downtown Phoenix, AZ
Presented By: Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
Highlights: Indoor/outdoor Blooomsday event honoring author James Joyce; beer tasting, food, Irish music, and dramatic readings from Joyce's works.

June 7: Blues & Brews Fest

Location: Festival Park, Fayetteville, NC
Special Event For: Cape Fear Regional Theater
Highlights: Fifth annual event, with more than 100 beers, music by some of the region’s most popular blues bands, food and beverages, children's activities.

June 7: International Beer Tasting

Location: Riverfront Arena, New Orleans, LA
Benefit For: WYES-TV, New Orleans' public television station
Highlights: Twenty-fifth annual event; last yeas year's festival featured more than 150 foreign, domestic, and home-brewed beers. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the WYES-TV website.

June 7-8: Karakterbierweekend: Hop 2008

Location: "De Stringe" Hall, Vichte, Belgium
Organized By: Heerluk Objektief Proeven (H.O.P.), an organization dedicated to promoting Belgian beer culture
Highlights: Belgian beer tasting in a cozy atmosphere; beer lectures, courses, and tastings; children's corner; "everyone's a winner" lottery, with prizes such as gift packs and bottles of beer; free admission.

June 7: LobsterPalooza Festival of Brews, Food and Music

Location: Washington Park, Albany, NY
Presented By: Rotary Club of Albany
Highlights: More than 40 craft-brewed beers from New York State and regional breweries; live music and food, both in the beer tent and on the festival grounds; proceeds will benefit the Albany Booster Club and the Albany Rotary Foundation.

June 7: Mountain Brewers Festival

Location: Sandy Downs Racetrack, Idaho Falls, ID
Organized By: North American Brewers Association
Highlights: One of the nation's premier judging festivals, held "under the big top," rain or shine; beer from about 80 breweries from across the United States, plus some European breweries; food court; live music; shuttle service between the festival venue and several area hotels; proceeds benefit a number of local charities.

June 7: Microbrew Block Party

Location: Miracle Mile at Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL
Benefit For: Bunoiconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
Highlights: Beer tasting, food, and live music; hosted by Mike DiPasquale, sports anchor for WSVN-TV; VIP tickets available.

June 7: Pennsylvania Microbrewer's Fest

Location: Pennsylvania Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, PA
Highlights: Three tasting sessions; beer from Pennsylvania and East coast microbreweries, with owners and brewers on hand; Dixieland jazz, Caribbean, and blues music; and a meal of sandwiches and salads. Tickets go on sale March 1.

June 7: Sasquatch Brewfest

Location: Kesey Square, Eugene, OR
Organized By: Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, with the co-sponsorship of the Siebel Institute of Technology
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 60 beers from over 40 breweries, food, live music, a silent auction and raffle, and a beer dinner in conjunction with the festival. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 7: Soroptimist International of Bidwell Rancho Microbrew Festival

Location: Manzanita Place, Chico, CA
Highlights: Beer from more than 40 breweries with more TBA on the festival website; food, music by two live bands, and prize raffles. Buy tickets early; this event is likely to sell out.

June 7: The Beerfest

Location: Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Benefit For: Face to Face/Sonoma County AIDS Network
Highlights: Beer from more than 35 Northern California's microbreweries and a matching number of gourmet food purveyors; live music by The Thugz.

June 8: Bear Creek Brew Fest

Location: Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Macungie, PA
Organized By: Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Outdoor setting, with beer from more than 25 breweries; food; music by The Philadelphia Funk Authority; Brew Fest overnight packages available.

June 9: AleFest Columbus

Location: Alladin Shrine Center Ballroom, Columbus, OH
Benefit For: Special Olympics Ohio Columbus Schools
Highlights: More than 200 beers from over 50 breweries; food and live music; breweriana and beer wearables on sale; silent auction and raffle; Dogfish Head’s "Randall The Enamel Animal."

June 9: Rocky Mountain Brew Fest

Location: Estes Park Brewery, Estes Park, CO
Highlights: Beer from more than 15 Colorado microbreweries, with live music; the festival venue is more than 7,500 feet above sea level.

June 12-14: Braintree Real Ale Festival

Location: Braintree Institute, Braintree, England
Organized By: Lions Club of Braintree, in association with the North-West Essex Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 40 Real Ales, including a specially-brewed festival ale; ciders and perries from across the United Kingdom; proceeds will be donated to the Essex Air Ambulance appeal.

June 12-14: Great Welsh Beer Festival

Location: Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Organized By: Local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: New venue this year; Wales's largest beer festival, with more than 150 traditional ales as well as more than 30 ciders and perries; hot and cold food on sale; family room during daytime sessions.

June 12: Made in the Shade Beer Festival

Location: Coconino County Fairgrounds, Fort Tuthill County Park, three miles south of Flagstaff AZ
Benefit For: Sun Sounds of Arizona
Highlights: Sampling "under the cool pines," with beer from more than 50 breweries from Arizona and the Southwest; live music on two stages; VIP sampling tickets available. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 12: Reading Phillies Beer Tasting Festival

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading, PA
Sponsored By: The Reading Eagle
Highlights: Pre-game sampling of imported and domestic beer provided by All-Star Distributing; all-you-can-eat buffet featuring barbecue chicken and hot dogs; access to the heated pool.

June 12-14: Tynedale Beer Festival

Location: Tynedale Rugby Club, Tynedale Park, Corbridge, England
Organized By: Tynedale Lions Club and Tynedale RFC
Highlights: More than 110 beers and ciders; live music at all sessions; a variety of food; festival benefits the Great North Air Ambulance and the Josie Grove Leukemia Fund.

June 13-14: Edmonton's Festival of Beer

Location: Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Highlights: A summer celebration of food and drink in a historic venue; more than 100 beers, plus margaritas, daiquiris, coolers, and wine; food, live bands, and DJ; outdoor beer garden.

June 13: Friday the Firkenteenth

Location: Grey Lodge Pub, Philadelphia, PA
Highlights: A Friday the 13th tradition, featuring 13 or more cask-conditioned ales at the bar. This is the only known beer event in the world whose frequency and timing are completely at the mercy of the calendar.

June 13-14: Occombe Beer Festival

Location: Occombe Farm, Paignton, England
Benefit For: Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust
Highlights: Torbay's only beer festival; last year's festival featured 40 beers and ciders from Devon Cornwall (this year's beers TBA); live music Friday and Saturday evening; barbecue, a hog roast, and more; event is held in conjunction with the South Devon Branch, Campaign for Real Ale.

June 13-14: Pizza Port Real Ale Festival

Location: Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Highlights: More than 60 cask-conditioned beers, all poured from firkins, plus and bottle-conditioned Real Ales; limited tickets for special Friday afternoon VIP session.

June 13-15: Washington Brewers Festival

Location: St. Edward State Park, Kenmore, WA
Presented By: Washington Beer Commission
Highlights: "The mother of all Father's Day festivals", with nearly 200 Washington-brewed beers, plus ciders and wines; "Brewers Keg Toss Contest"; kids' playground and root beer garden; craft market; food and live music.

June 13-14: Wyoming Brewer's Festival

Location: Cheyenne Depot Plaza, Cheyenne, WY
Highlights: Taster’s party Friday evening, with beer tasting, food from Cheyenne restaurants, and music; Brewer’s Fest Saturday evening, with beer tasting and food available at a nominal price; proceeds go toward restoration of the depot.

June 14: Cityview Brewfest

Location: Downtown Des Moines, IA
Presented By:Cityview Magazine
Highlights: More than 250 beers, live music provided by Brother Trucker and Mooseknuckle.

June 14: Creative Loafing's Beer Fest

Location: Woodruff Park, downtown Atlanta, GA
Highlights: More than 100 local, national, and imported beers; "Beer'lympics" interactive games; live music; vendor stands.

June 14: Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival

Location: Brewery Hall, Stoudts Brewery, Adamstown, PA
Highlights: Two tasting sessions, with more than 50 microbrewed beers from around the country; Ed Stoudts "Best of the Wurst" German-style buffet; live entertainment; complimentary shuttle service from local motels.

June 14: Great Northern Beer Festival

Location: Hi-Pines Campground, Eagle River, WI
Highlights: Beer from more than 20 breweries, most of them from Wisconsin; Eagle River Homebrewers Exhibition; shuttle bus from local motels to festival site.

June 14: Lander Brew Fest

Location: Jaycee Park, Lander, WY
Sponsored By: Lander Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 40 beers from 12 Rocky Mountain microbreweries, a "People's Choice Award," and food and live music. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

June 14: Leinie Lodge Family Reunion

Location: Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Chippewa Falls, WI
Highlights: Fifth annual event, featuring Leinenkugel beer, food, contests, and activities for everyone.

June 14: Shaver Lake Brewfest

Location: Shaver Lake Community Center, Shaver Lake, CA
Highlights: Small-town beer festival in a mountain setting; a variety of beer, food, and live music by the Trey Tosh Band; camping close by.

June 14: Truckee Brew Fest

Location: Truckee Regional Park, Truckee, CA
Presented By: Truckee Optimist Club
Highlights: Park setting; beer from more than 20 breweries, plus ciders; live music, silent auction, brats and sausages; proceeds support youth programs.

June 17: Craft Beer and BBQ

Location: Theater Square Cabaret , Pittsburgh, PA
Organized By: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Highlights: A a wide variety of craft-brewed beer with Tony “The Beerman” Knipling and Dave Simone of In the Beer Garden, KQV Radio; light fare from Café Zao; craft beer six-packs to go.

June 19: Connecticut Brew Fest

Location: Old State House, Hartford, CT
Highlights: Craft-brewed beres from throughout New England; food from Hartford area restaurants; live music by The Happening; games; emcee Scott Haney and an appearance by WCCC radio personalities.

June 19-21: National Homebrewers Conference

Location: Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel, Cincinnati, OH
Sponsored By: Brewers Association
Highlights: A fun, educational gathering designed to enhance homebrewers' brewing skills and to increase homebrewing camaraderie; this year's conference features keynote speaker Jim Koch; special seminars and events aimed at amateur brewers and beer enthusiasts of every level.

June 19-22: North Devon Beer Festival

Location: North Devon Leisure Centre, Devon, England
Benefit For: Devon Air Ambulance Trust
Highlights: Last year's festival featured 100 Real Ales and 25 Real Ciders (this year's beer list TBA on the festival website) plus Devon wines; live entertainment every evening; model railway exhibition.

June 19-21: Scottish Real Ale Festival

Location: Assembly Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland
Organized By: Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 120 Scottish-brewed Real Ales, ciders and perries, and food and entertainment. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 20-21: American Craft Beer Fest

Location: Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Organized By: BeerAdvocate.com
Highlights: One of the East Coast's largest celebrations of American craft beer, with over 250 beers from 75 breweries; three tasting sessions; beer education seminars and other events. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 20-22: "Beer Passion" Weekend

Location: Groenplaats, Antwerp, Belgium
Sponsored By: Beer Passion Magazine
Highlights: More than 150 beers, most of the from Flemish breweries; beer cuisine; and musical entertainment. Website is in Flemish only.

June 20: Festival of the Moon

Location: Corner of Turner and Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI
Presented By: Old Town Main Street
Highlights: A selection of microbrewed beers, with live music; event benefits Old Town Lansing.

June 20-22: Leipzig Bierboerse

Location: Voelkerschlachtdenkmal, Leipzig, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.

June 20-21: National Brew Fest

Location: Downtown Mankato, MN
Highlights: Outdoor venue; more than 100 craft-brewed beers from 30 breweries; live entertainment, with an emphasis on classic acts: the headline performers at this year's festival are the Marshall Tucker Band and Canned Heat.

June 20-21: South Downs Beer & Cider Festival

Location: Old Corn & Hop Exchange, Town Hall, Lewes, England
Organized By: Brighton & South Downs Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 50 Real Ales, plus ciders, perries, and country wines; food and soft drinks.

June 21: Brew-Ha-Ha

Location: North Park Avenue, in front of the Phoenix Theater, Indianapolis, IN
Benefit For: The Phoenix Theater's annual fund drive
Highlights: A beer festival and block party in the city's Mass Ave Arts District; beer from more than 20 breweries and other suppliers, food, live music.

June 21: Craft Brewers Competition & Festival at the San Diego County Fair

Location: Chevrolet Del Mar Arena, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA
Organized By: San Diego Brewers Guild
Highlights: Sampling of beer from about 200 expected entries; Best of Show competition; bratwurst competition; festival coincides with the fair's Bluegrass Day.

June 21: Festival of the Sun

Location: Corner of Turner and Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI
Presented By: Old Town Main Street
Highlights: A selection of microbrewed beers, along with wine and food from local restaurants; live music; event benefits Old Town Lansing.

June 21: Founders Fest

Location: Outside Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
Highlights: A celebration of beer and music, held outdoors for the first time this year; Founders beer; seven bands from the Grand Rapids/West Michigan area; local food.

June 21: Garden State Craft Brewers Beer Festival

Location: Aboard the Battleship U.S.S. New Jersey, Camden, NJ
Organized By: Garden State Craft Brewers Guild
Highlights: "A sailor's dream: beer on the battleship"; beer from 16 New Jersey breweries, served on board the nation's largest battleship.

June 21: Blues, Brews & BBQs

Location: Teo Park on the Riverfront, Stevenson, WA
Highlights: Fifteenth annual event; venue is in the heart of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic area; festival features beer from Northwest craft breweries, music by three live bands, and activities for the family.

June 21: Harrisburg Brewers Fest

Location: Second and Locust Streets, downtown Harrisburg, PA
Highlights: Fifth annual event; beer from more than 35 Pennsylvania and Middle Atlantic region breweries; food, including pit beef sandwiches, crab cakes, and Jamaican food; live music; a limited number of VIP tickets are available; proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Founation of Central Pennsylvania.

June 21: Maine Grains & Grapes Festival

Location: Androscoggin Bank Colisee, Lewiston, ME
Presented By: Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch
Highlights: Inaugural event; two tasting sessions, featuring breweries and wineries from around the state of Maine, along with food and entertainment.

June 21: Midsummer Magic

Location: Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI
Highlights: Beer from some of Wisconsin's favorite breweries, along with Wisconsin wine and food from area restaurants; five outdoor music stages; festival venue, a re-created 1870s Wisconsin village, is the Midwest's largest outdoor museum of living history.

June 21-22: Northern Virginia Summer Beer Festival

Location: Morven Park, Leesburg, VA
Presented By: Vintage Restaurant and Brew House
Highlights: Beer from more than 40 of America’s best breweries; food; music provided by local and regional bands.

June 21: Oakland A's Beer Festival

Location: East Side Club, McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Highlights: Event, held before the 7:05 game against the Florida Marlins, will feature beer from more than 30 different breweries, live music, and other festivities; free admission with game ticket.

June 21: Oregon Brews & BBQs

Location: Granary District, near downtown McMinnville, OR
Highlights: Beer from local microbreweries and wine from local wineries; food; featuring bearbecue from several providers; live music; raffle for a a Lil' Tex BBQ.

June 21: Slimbridge Beer Festival

Location: Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, England
Highlights: Last year's festival featured 40 draft beers as well as several ciders, live entertainment, and hot and cold snacks. Details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 21-22: Wilburton Beer Festival

Location: Wilburton Recreation Ground, near Wilburton, England
Organized By: Wilburton Beer Festival Committee
Highlights: More than 25 Real Ales, plus cider, wine, and soft drinks; live music and barbecue throughout the festival; children's "cocktail bar" and entertainment; proceeds benefit local charities.

June 27-29: Cologne Bierboerse

Location: Tanzbrunnen, Cologne, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.

June 27: Foam Fest

Location: RiverMarket Pavilions, Little Rock, AR
Organized By: Abbott
Highlights: More than 65 varieties of beer and wine from around the world; live music from local bands; all proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation, Arkansas Chapter.

June 27-28: Kingston Beer Festival

Location: Surrey County Staff Club, Kingston upon Thames, England
Organized By: Kingston & Leatherhead Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 45 cooled Real Ales, plus ciders and perries; food available at all sessions, including hot food on Fri evening and Saturday; lounge, outdoor marquee, and beer hall.

June 27-29: North American Organic Brewers Festival

Location: Overlook Park, Portland, OR
Presented By: Roots Organic Brewing Company
Highlights: A celebration of organically-brewed beer, with more than 50 beers from breweries in the Cascadia region (the world's organic brewing capital) as well as organic pioneers from elsewhere; sustainability-oriented vendors, live music, and local and organic food; festival is powered by biodiesel, composts food waste, and uses biodegradable tasting cups.

June 27-29: Plough Stapenhill Beer Festival

Location: Plough Stapenhill, Burton Upon Trent, England
Highlights: Ten beers and two ciders, in addition to the guest beers available at the bar. Email sales (at) burtonbridgebrewery (dot) co (dot) uk for more information.

June 28: AleFest Columbus

Location: Alladin Shrine Center Ballroom, Columbus, OH
Benefit For: Special Olympics (2007 charity)
Highlights: Last year's festival feature more than 200 beers from over 50 breweries, live music, breweriana for sale, prize raffle, food, and homebrew demonstrations. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

June 28: Bell Tower Brewfest

Location: Downtown Placerville, CA
Hosted By: Placerville's downtown merchants
Highlights: More than 35 microbrewed beers, served on closed-off downtown streets; blues and zydeco entertainment; event is a fund-raiser for the Placerville Downtown Association. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out in advance.

June 28: Buford Association School's 4th Biennial Beer Festival

Location: Warwick Hill and Gardens, Burford, England
Benefit For: Burford School Association
Highlights: Picturesque garden setting in a historic Cotswold market town; a selection of real ales, including locally-brewed ales and summer specials; cider, Cotswold lager, and wine; pig roast and barbecue; live music. Contact festival organizers by phone at 0794 6629686 or by email at henshallfamily (at) btinternet (dot) com for more information.

June 28-29: Colorado Brewers' Festival

Location: Old Town, Fort Collins, CO
Organized By: Downtown Fort Collins
Highlights: Historic downtown setting; beer from more than 40 Colorado breweries, including five from the immediate area; food and live entertainment; proceeds benefit other events in Fort Collins.

June 28: Congleton Summer Beer Festival

Location: Hankinson's Field, Congleton, England
Organized By: Congleton Round Table and Congleton Ladies Circle
Highlights: Forty to fifty beers, plus ciders and wines; music by several live bands; proceeds benefit local charities.

June 28: Great Eldorado BBQ, Blues and Blues Festival

Location: Outside the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Reno, NV
Highlights: Beer from the Eldorado's Brew Brothers brewpub, along with beer from more than 30 of the region's best breweries; grilled chicken, ribs, sausage; premium cigars and souvenir merchandise; live entertainers, including Tito Puente Jr., Lavay Smith & the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Red Beans & Rice, Shane Dwight Band, and Buddy Emmer.

June 28-29: Great European Beerfest

Location: Sharp Edge Beer Emporium, Pittsburgh, PA
Highlights: Three tasting sessions, "under the big top," with more than 100 European beers to sample; food and live music.

June 27-29: Lake Country Beer & Music Festival

Location: Nixon Park, Hartland, WI
Presented By: Lake Country Rotary
Highlights: Friday evening "Brewers and Cheesemakers Party," featuring beer and cheese pairing and bluegrass music; Saturday afternoon "Extreme Beer Tasting," with more than 50 breweries represented and polka music; Saturday and Sunday afternoon "World Class Beers on Draught," with fireworks Saturday, a parade on Sunday, and live music at both sessions.

June 28: Olde New England Days Brewfest

Location: Village Shops, Lincoln, NH
Produced By: Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Docto Association Management
Highlights: New venue this year, located near Loon Mountain and the quaint village of Woodstock; beer from all of New Hampshire's craft breweries, with food and live music; festival caps off the weekend-long Olde New England Days festival and "Splash into Summer" events.