2025 Fresh Hop Ale Festival

> 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 5PM Thursday October 2nd, 2025. Refunds can be processed by going to your ticket confirmation email and clicking “View & Manage Order”.

> Gate Times

VIP Entry: 4PM
General Admission Entry: 5PM

> Parking

Onsite parking is managed by State Fair Park. The 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

Shuttle information will be available closer to the event.

> Camping

Details coming soon.

> 21+ Event

You must be 21 years old or older to attend the festival.

> When You Get Here

There are two 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

The list of 2025 participating breweries will be available closer to the event.

> Food Vendor List

The list of 2025 participating food vendors will be available closer to the event.

> Cashless Payments

We are a cash-free venue except for a few general admission food vendors. Please bring a credit or debit card for purchasing additional beer tokens, Fresh Hop merch, and food.

> Beer Tokens and Merch

Stations to purchase additional beer tokens will be located throughout the festival grounds. You can also find your favorite Festival swag at our merch booth near the stage.

> Live Music

The list of performing artists will be available soon.

> Last Call

Last call will be announced at 9PM. Be sure to fill your glass before taps close at 9:30PM and enjoy dancing to the headliner band before they conclude, and the festival ends at 10PM.

> The Taps

Breweries are asked to bring at least one Fresh Hop beer to the festival, and they typically bring more! Each station will have two tap handles pouring throughout the festival while the beer lasts.

The beer taps are manned by Fresh Hop Ale Festival volunteers, and brewery staff are invited to participate. Brewers enjoy talking about their beer to festival goers, but they also love to taste other 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 8PM 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 taste some of the best Fresh Hop beers brewed in 2025!

> Homebrew Competition

Stay tuned for 2025 registration.

> Items ALLOWED to be brought into the Festival

• Lawn Chairs – for use near the stage, no height restrictions
• Cameras
• Blankets
• We do NOT have a clear-bag policy

> Items NOT ALLOWED in the Festival

• Children
• Drones
• Weapons of any kind
• Outside alcohol, marijuana and/or Illegal drugs/substances
• Beverage 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.)