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Craft beer tasting coming to Naperville's Ribfest

Naperville's Ribfest is latching on to the craft beer craze.

Organizers of the 28th annual event say they will add a craft beer fest on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.

From 1 to 5 p.m., people 21 and older who buy a $45 ticket can relax in the shade of a large tent and sample up to 18 3-ounce pours of craft and specialty beers, said Dawn Portner, Ribfest chairwoman of food and beverage.

The tent will be on the north side of the festival grounds in Knoch Park near downtown Naperville, away from the traveling ribbers on the south side. Organizers say they're adding a craft beer element this year to bring in new revenue and add activities to the north side of the festival.

“We know how popular craft beer festivals are,” Portner said.

For one recent example, roughly 4,000 people attended the second annual Naperville Winter Ale Fest, which took place Feb. 28 at Frontier Park. So in July, Ribfest organizers expect the new beer tastings to be well-attended.

“We're looking at 35 beers provided by MillerCoors and Euclid, our distributor for the rest of the beer tents,” Portner said.

Those accustomed to Coors Light and not much else from the Colorado-based brewery will be in for a surprise, Ribfest Chairman Bob Pschirrer said. The festival will offer regional and seasonal brews produced by MillerCoors and smaller breweries under the umbrella of the well-known name.

Craft beer festivalgoers will receive wristbands to allow entry into the tent, but they also will have free reign to walk around and buy food throughout the rest of the fest — ribbers and all.

Musical performances will begin at noon to serenade those sampling beers, even though they won't be able to see the main stage.

“They'll definitely be able to hear it,” Pschirrer said.

Organizers are hoping tasters will stick around for the rest of the evening to hear July 4 headliners Kellie Thompson and Kristian Bush and performers on July 3 who have yet to be named.

Craft beer tasting tickets are on sale now at ribfest.net, and if they don't sell out online before July 3, they will be available at the gate. The $45 craft beer ticket includes the $15 price of regular Ribfest admission.

New this year, people also can buy Front of Stage reserved tickets to gain access to a fenced-in area immediately in front of the stage. Those tickets will vary in price depending on the artist of the day, Pschirrer said.

Ribfest is scheduled for July 2 through July 5 and proceeds will benefit charities chosen by the Naperville Exchange Club for their work to end child abuse and domestic violence.

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  Bob Pschirrer, Ribfest chairman, and Naperville Mayor George Pradel listen to a presentation Thursday about plans to include a craft beer tasting on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Marie Wilson/mwilson@dailyherald.com
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