Inaugural Event to Be Held Saturday, May 16 (1-6pm) at Turtle Creek Stadium – Home of the Traverse City Pit Spitters
Tickets for the Michigan Brewers Guild newest festival – the Michigan Brewers Guild Spring Beer Festival – will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Thursday, March 5 online at MiBeer.com. Enthusiast Member ticket pre-sale will run from midnight on Tuesday, March 3 until midnight on Wednesday, March 4.
This new festival will be held on Saturday, May 16 from 1-6pm in Traverse City at Turtle Creek Stadium, home of the Traverse City Pit Spitters, at 333 Stadium Drive (US-31 South, Traverse City).
“Over the past 22 years, the Michigan Brewers Guild has prided itself on hosting the best beer festivals in the state,” says Scott Graham, Guild Executive Director. “We started with the Summer Beer Festival in 1998 and have grown over the years in terms of the number of events as well as participating breweries and attendees. Adding a festival in northern lower Michigan rounds out the geographical footprint for our events and we think there will be a lot of enthusiasm for the MBG Spring Beer Festival in Traverse City. We are very excited to partner with our friends in Traverse City – who we came to know while growing our Winter Beer Festival – in introducing this new event to all.”
The 5,000-seat Turtle Creek Stadium is a privately-owned multi-purpose facility located just south of downtown Traverse City and home to the Traverse City Pit Spitters of the Northwoods collegiate wooden bat league. The stadium was originally opened in 2006 and the facility and baseball franchise were purchased by group of investors led by the West Michigan Whitecaps in September of 2018.
“As we look to make Turtle Creek Stadium a venue that is host to events other than baseball games, a partnership with the Michigan Brewers Guild is a natural fit,” says Mickey Graham, Pit Spitters General Manager, who helped the Guild develop the Winter Beer Festival downstate. “The Guild is known to execute first class events and their track record for these types of festivals is unparalleled. We look forward to making this an annual one that beer lovers from all over the state enjoy.”
The MBG 2020 festival schedule includes:
- Spring Beer Festival – Saturday, May 16 at Turtle Creek Stadium in Traverse City
General admission tickets go on sale on Thursday, March 5 at 10am
- Summer Beer Festival – Friday, July 24 & Saturday, July 25 at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti
General admission tickets go on sale on Thursday, April 30 at 10am
- U.P. Fall Beer Festival – Saturday, September 12 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette
General admission tickets go on sale on Thursday, June 25 at 10am
- Detroit Fall Beer Festival – Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit
General admission tickets go on sale on Thursday, August 6 at 10am
For more on each festival, visit MiBeer.com/events.
The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts five festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its more than 290 member breweries (a number that increases on a monthly basis).
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Michigan Brewers Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 21,000 full-time jobs and $872 million in labor income, with a total economic impact of over $2.5 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #4 in the nation—supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”