The 2024 Happy Retreat Craft Beer & Music Festival will be on Saturday, September 7, from 11 am – 6 pm. The event will be held on the historic grounds of Happy Retreat, former home of Charles Town founder Charles Washington. The music lineup for this year’s event is New Way Drive (bluegrass), 1 – 12:30 pm; Bobby D & The Truck Stop Burritos (current & old school country), 1 – 2:30 pm; Cramer & Ivy (local duo), 3 – 4:30 pm; and Brickyard Road (Skynyrd tribute band), 5 – 6 pm.
The beer lineup will include local brewers Rippon Brewing, Bavarian Brothers Brewing, and Abolitionist Ale Works, along with brews from Champion, VooDoo, Flying Dog, Screech Owl, High Ground, Bridge Brew works, Hawk Knob, Smoke Town, Big Timber, Great Lakes, Lagunita, Antietam, Parkersburg, and Parkway, plus ciders from Winchester Ciderworks and Angry Orchard. Food providers will be Ortega’s Taco Shop, BC Catering Co, Fried Rite, and Flor & Galleano.
General admission tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door (age 21 and up) and include a 6.5 oz. tasting glass and 8 free tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets may be purchased. Tickets for designated drivers (no alcohol consumption) and ages 13-20 are $20; children under 12 are free. General parking is available at the site and on nearby streets. The historic Happy Retreat house will be open to visitors during the festival.
All proceeds from the event will go to Friends of Happy Retreat which is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to restore historic Happy Retreat to serve as a vibrant center of cultural life and community gatherings. Website for information & ticket purchase: HappyRetreat.org.
By Staff Contributor