DeLand Craft Beer Fest: A Stroll Through Mainstreet USA

February 14, 2018  Under a blue sky, colorful brewery tents lined two downtown DeLand streets on Saturday, February 10, as the 9th Annual DeLand Craft Beer Fest was a walk through Mainstreet USA -- with beers in hand, of course! Each year, the Fest wraps up Volusia Beer Week, itself a local celebration of craft beer in Volusia County. 

DeLand, you ask? The city of DeLand, the county seat of Volusia County, is nestled between Daytona and Orlando, is home to a number of 19th century historic buildings, and is the site of Stetson University, Florida's oldest private college. From the east, the tree-bordered drive on US 92 (Intl Speedway) from I-95 takes you to the outskirts of downtown DeLand, which features a quaint main street lined with a variety of storefronts, businesses, and outdoor eating establishments. 

Fun in the Sun: DeLand Craft Beer Fest

Mother Nature was smiling on the Sunshine State last Saturday, and it was fun in the sun for the attendees at the 8th Annual DeLand Craft Beer Fest on February 11. It was a perfect day for drinking beer from the 90 or so breweries represented (although, it's always a good day for some beer! See preview story and recap of last year). Temps held steady around 80°with abundant sunshine over a crisp blue sky all afternoon, from the minute the gates opened at 1pm until the last drop of beer was poured at 5pm. 

Pull Up a Chair and Park It Here: Persimmon Hollow Brewing

DeLand?  About the only thing I knew about DeLand, Florida is that there's a road sign on I-95 around Daytona Beach pointing to DeLand: somewhere between Orlando and Daytona.  So, I consulted Wikipedia and learned a little bit about this city: county seat of Volusia County, home to a number of 19th century historic buildings, and site of Stetson University, Florida's oldest private college.  OK, pretty informative stuff.  Last Saturday, I decided to take a little ride to check out Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company.