Mundelein to host its first craft beer festival
Mundelein officials are teaming with a local brewery, a downtown group and volunteers to host the town’s first craft beer festival in two weeks.
The June 9 celebration of suds will feature beverages from more than a dozen brewers — including some local companies — as well as food and music.
Mundelein’s relatively new Tighthead Brewing Co. will host the event in the brewery parking lot, 161 N. Archer Ave. Also set to offer cold, frothy beverages are brewers including Libertyville’s Mickey Finn’s, Bell’s, Wild Onion, Goose Island, Wheeling’s Ram and Haymarket Brewery.
“We’ve got great participants,” Assistant Village Administrator Mike Flynn said.
Volunteers with Mundelein’s economic development commission put together the event, inspired by Tighthead’s 2011 opening in town, Flynn said.
Instead of waiting for fall — when beer-drenched, Octoberfest-themed events typically are held — organizers opted for June “when you’ve got good weather,” Flynn said.
The event will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission will be limited to 1,000 people, Flynn said.
“I think that’s ambitious,” he said.
Tickets are $35 per person, and attendees must be at least 21 years old. Ticketholders will get a commemorative glass featuring a craft beer festival logo, as well as unlimited 3-ounce samples of the various breweries’ products.
Flynn compared the tasting-style event to a wine festival, where people walk around and sample various products.
Organizers are offering a special admission fee to anyone who wants to be a designated driver during the event. Their tickets will be $15, and they’ll get free water or soda and the commemorative glass.
“We’ve also contacted the taxi companies and let them know this is going on,” Flynn said.
Proceeds will benefit the Mundelein Community Connection, the downtown group that used to be called Mundelein MainStreet.
Flynn hopes the group will break even this year but take home some profit if the event is held again in 2013 or beyond.
“It’ll be a learning experience the first year,” he said.
Food will be available for purchase from Lauretta’s Italian bakery, Luke’s of Mundelein and Tony’s Hot Dogs. A band called The Hicks will perform.
Attendees can park at the Metra station near Tighthead Brewing.
Tickets can be purchased at the Community Connection office, Mundelein Community Bank, Northside Community Bank or PNC Bank, or online at tightheadbrewing.com.