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. 

It'll Be Pouring Beer at DeLand Craft Beer Fest

As of now, Mother Nature is indicating that the only thing that will be pouring at Saturday's upcoming DeLand Craft Beer Festival is BEER! The forecast calls for a near 80°day with sunny skies, so you just might be able to swap that rain poncho for some sunscreen this time around (you had to be there; see recap of last year's fest). 

Back for its 8th year, the DeLand Craft Beer Fest will once again be held in historic Downtown DeLand, but at a new location. According to Fest Organizer Ann-Marie Bays, the fest has simply "outgrown" the previous site along Georgia Ave. As much as the Fest Committee "loves that part of town," the fest is being moved "a couple of blocks north, to Indiana Ave., still in the heart of downtown." The fest venue runs along East Indiana Ave. from North Woodland Blvd. to and including North Alabama Ave. Those streets will be closed to accommodate the brewery tents and foot traffic. 

DeLand Craft Beer Fest: Rain Didn't Dampen Our Spirits

Cloudy with a chance of rain ... later, after 5pm.  Saturday's early forecast for DeLand, Florida didn't include a postcard-perfect sunny Florida day from the get-go, but it looked like the rain would at least hold off until just about the time that Volusia Beer Week's DeLand Craft Beer Fest would wrap up.  Uh-uh. Around mid-day, Mother Nature decided to exercise her prerogative to change her mind for some reason, and she opened the clouds upon central Florida (sometimes I think she really needs a beer).  By this time, there was a line of patrons awaiting entry to the fest in downtown DeLand. Umbrellas popped up, and those stylish plastic rain ponchos became the wardrobe of the day (be prepared: always carry one).  But, hey, this was a beer fest.... and, a little rain wouldn't dampen the spirits of these beer-drinking fans. So, over 1000 of us picked up our fest mugs and made our way through the entry tent and proceeded onto Georgia Ave.

Hello, Florida BeerFest Season 2016!

It's the last week in January.  While that might be equated with the usual two-week cold snap (Florida chill - who else has needed a big ol' blanket recently?), it also means that BeerFest Season is here in Florida!  The new year started off with Key Largo Brew on the Bay and Funky Buddha Brewing's Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Day (see my MBCPDay blog post!). 

Check out my BeerSphere™ Events page for beerfests and other special events throughout the year (it's constantly updated; I even put links in to make it easy for ya). Include beerfests in your travel plans! (along with golf, scuba, beach bumming, birdwatching, concerts, etc. - but somehow I always find time for the beer!)