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20 Reasons to Not Miss the 20th Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival!

Raise a glass. It’s the 20th anniversary of Colorado’s longest running craft beer festival this year. The Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival returns Aug. 4-7 with more than 40 breweries and 150 varieties of craft brews in River Run Village at Keystone Resort.

Here are 20 reasons to get thee and thee friends to the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival this summer:

  1. It’s a birthday party. Keystone is celebrating 20 years of Bluegrass and Beer and throwing a big party with bluegrass and beer and new events and festivities.
  2. It’s your chance to sample 150 different types of craft beers from 40 different breweries (21 and over, of course). Booyah.
  3. The festival is happening in such a cool (literally) spot. The average summer temperature is 75 degrees. And River Run Village offers a cool vibe, right in the heart of Keystone Resort.
  4. Craft beer. The focus for this festival is on craft brews. Keystone’s event was one of the first craft beer festivals in the state and is still one of the longest running craft beer festivals in Colorado.
  5. A new Bike-In Cinema event. New Belgium Brewing has teamed up to offer a new bike-in outdoor showing of The Goonies on Thursday night to kick off the weekend festivities.
  6. Free music from bluegrass legends. Some of the best bluegrass musicians and bands in the biz take the stage on Saturday and Sunday and it’s free. Tap your toes to Mason Town, Mandolin Orange, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan and the Larry Keel Experience (and more).
  7. A new beer maker’s dinner on Friday, Aug. 5. New Belgium beers will be paired with dishes from local legend Chef Chris Rybak and bluegrass music for the first-ever Eat, Drink and Pick event. (Tickets are $55)
  8. Homebrewing events and celebrations. Warren Station will transform into the Homebrew Hub on Saturday and Sunday with homebrewing demonstrations, opportunities to get tips and instructions from expert homebrewers and a chance to sample what’s on tap.
  9. The New Belgium “Fat Tire and Friends” Collabeeration. New Belgium teamed up with five other breweries to create their own versions of the classic Fat Tire Amber Ale. Sample the results on Saturday at noon.
  10. DIY Beer. The American Homebrewers Association will present a free seminar to help you get started or improve your homebrewing skills. DIY beer.
  11. The Beer Glass Pass. Get a Beer Glass Pass (for $40 for one-day sampling) and it’s your ticket to sample the 150 different types of brews offered at the festival.
  12. Rock the vote for your favorite brew. Simply post your favorite on social with the hashtag #KeystoneBestBrew and you could help your favorite brewery win bragging rights and free trip back to next year’s festival.
  13. Free Instagram prints. Share your favorite moments from the festival (using the hashtags #keystonefestivals or #keystonebestbrew or #keystonemoments) with all your Instagram followers and friends and then get a free Insta-print right at the festival. Check out the various Insta-print stations.
  14. Kidtopia Kids Zone. With face painting, craft sessions and the Keystone Kidtopia Play Park, even the little ones will say cheers to the Bluegrass and Beer Festival (as well as their parents).
  15. Drink beer for a good cause. The Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival is donating a portion of the proceeds to the High Country Conservation Center, a local nonprofit that focuses on waste reduction, energy efficiency and clean energy.
  16. The Hillbilly Luxury lodging deal. Yeehaw. Don’t drink and drive. Instead, stay the night. Keystone Resort is offering Hillbilly Luxury lodging deals for festival goers. SummitCove.com and Key to the Rockies also offer special festival packages.
  17. Bluegrass, Beers and Bikes. The festival is happening just steps away from some of the best downhill biking in the state. Keystone’s lift-served biking is a must-do for any serious downhiller or mountain biker.
  18. Views. Take a break from the action and get a lift on the Keystone gondola to the top of the mountain for some stellar views and Instagram-worthy pics.
  19. Festival food. If you’re looking for burgers, pork sliders, turkey legs and ice cream, we have it. There’s also upscale festival dishes from Keystone’s award-winning restaurants like the Keystone Ranch.
  20. The combination of beer, bluegrass, festival food and the Colorado Rockies adds up to a perfect summer day. Don’t miss your opportunity to kick back, sip a brew and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at Keystone Resort. Cheers!

So, what are you waiting for? Head for the hills and be a part of the 20th anniversary of this popular event.