Our 21st Annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival was held Saturday, October 5th at the Sozo Sports Complex.
THANK YOU to everyone who attended and participated in our 2024 event!
Below are good THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ATTENDING our Fresh Hop Ale Festival events, here’s what to expect.
COME RAIN AND/OR SHINE
The festival will go on whatever the weather, except for
extremely high winds & lightning within a certain proximity.
REFUND POLICY
Tickets are refundable until 5:00 pm Friday October 4th, 2024. Refunds can be processed by going to your ticket confirmation email and clicking “View & Manage Order”.
GATE TIMES
VIP Entry: 4:00 PM, General Admission: 5:00 PM
PARKING
Onsite parking is managed by Sozo Sports Complex. Parking fee is $10 per car, cash or card payments will be accepted. IF you don't want to pay for parking, check out the Free Shuttle service and drop off locations.
FREE SHUTTLE SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS
Pick Ups: 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 P.M. (ALL ATTENDEES) Shuttles Leaving When Full
Ledgestone Hotel: 107 N Fair Ave Yakima, WA (Walk towards the Marriott)
Wide Hollow Elementary: 1000 S 72nd Ave, Yakima, WA
Rainier Square: 2600 W Nob Hill Blvd Yakima, WA (Southwest Corner near buffet)
Yakima Valley Mall: 2529 Main St Union Gap, WA. (Behind Miners and south of Marshals)
Single Hill Brewing: 102 N. Naches Ave. Yakima, WA. (Parking on street or behind building)
Return shuttles will begin leaving at 7:00 p.m. and will run until all attendees have left the festival.
CAMPING
Stay tuned for next years details.
21+ Event
You must be 21 years old or old to attend the festival.
WHEN YOU GET HERE
There are 2 entry lines, one for VIP and one for General Admission. Please be sure to join the correct line. ALL ATTENDEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID TO VERIFY AGE. Paper renewals or vertical IDs will not be accepted by security.
To improve front gate flow, our security staff and entry volunteers will meet you at the front of the line to check your ID and give you your wrist band. Upon entering the venue, you will receive your festival glass and beverage tokens. 4 tokens for General Admission, 6 tokens for VIP, and 8 tokens per attendee for VIP table purchasers.
BREWERY LIST
FOOD VENDOR LIST
CASHLESS PAYMENTS
We’re a cash-free venue except for a few general admission food vendors. Please bring with a credit or debit card for purchasing additional beer tokens, Fresh Hop merch, and food.
BEER TOKENS AND THE MERCH
Stations to purchase beer tokens will be located throughout the beer garden. Find your favorite festival's merch at our merch booth near the entrance to VIP, in front of the stage.
LIVE MUSIC
The first Band will kick off at 5:30 PM. Band information:
- RICE
- Coming soon!
- Victims of Love
LAST CALL
Last call will be announced at 9:00 PM. Be sure to fill your glass before taps close at 9:30PM and enjoy some end of the night dancing before the final band concludes and the festival ends at 10:00PM.
THE TAPS
Breweries are asked to bring at least 1 Fresh Hop beer to the festival and typically bring more! Each station will have 2 tap handles pouring throughout the festival while the beer lasts. The beer taps are manned by Fresh Hop Ale Festival Volunteers and brewers are invited to participate. Brewers enjoy talking about their beer to festival goers, but they also love to taste fresh hop beers. We hope you have the opportunity to chat with a brewer at their tap station, but they may be roaming in the wild for a great beer just like you.
BEER JUDGING
Awards for professional and home brew competitions will be announced at 8:00PM on the main stage. Beer judging happens during the festival by a panel of beer judges. As soon as the judging is complete, signs will be posted in front of the taps of the finalist breweries. Be sure to watch for the signs so you can try some of the top beers of the festival!
HOME BREW COMPETITION
Items ALLOWED to be brought into venue:
- We do NOT have a clear bag policy
- Lawn Chairs - to use in lawn in front of stage, no height restrictions
- Cameras
- Blankets
Items NOT ALLOWED in venue:
- Children
- Drones
- Weapons of any kind
- Outside alcohol, marijuana & Illegal drugs/substances
- Hard & soft sided/large coolers
- Large or oversized bags/backpacks, such as luggage, duffel bags, or industrial/camping-sized backpacks
- Laser pointers
- Animals (except service animals)
- Fireworks
- Inflatables (balls, furniture, etc)