Gurnee craft beer fest to benefit American Legion
Gurnee will host its second craft beer fundraiser to primarily benefit the village's American Legion post.
The Legions of Craft Beer Festival will run from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, outside Gurnee Mills' Entrance E. At least 53 craft breweries and one winery are expected to participate.
Mayor Kristina Kovarik was part of a crowd of roughly 1,200 at last year's inaugural festival.
"The Legions of Craft Beer fest is an opportunity for local organizations and attendees to come together to support our Lake County veterans organizations," Kovarik said. "This year will have even more breweries, more food trucks and will hopefully raise even more money for our local veterans."
Gurnee village board members in 2014 agreed to back the craft beer bash as a way to help boost American Legion Post 711's sagging finances after rejecting the organization's request for video gambling. Village officials said video gaming cannot be limited to the post and that it doesn't fit Gurnee's family-friendly entertainment image.
Last year, Kovarik presented a $17,500 check to Post 771 strategic planning chairman James Huisel at a November village board meeting. Another $5,800 raised from the 2015 Legions of Craft Beer went to Lake County Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization that flies veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C.
Ever-popular 3 Floyds Brewing Co. of Munster, Indiana, and Gurnee's Only Child Brewing are scheduled to be part of the 53 craft breweries, bands and food trucks at the festival. Organizers said the red and white wines from The Winebow Group of Glen Allen, Virginia, were added to appeal to patrons not into beer.
General admission is $45 and a designated driver package is $10. More information is available at gurneelegionsofbeer.com.