Big Bend Brewfest set to pour for 4th year next weekend | Brew Bend

The Big Bend Brewfest is getting set for its 4th year next weekend at Rosehead Park in Perry from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, March 18, and this event is still going strong thanks to one woman's resilience: Dawn Viola Perez, longtime Executive Director of the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce.

Perez admittedly didn't know much about craft beer when she began working on the fundraising idea back in 2018, but she has learned tons over the last five years. Namely that even in the face of adversity, folks love their craft brews — and unlimited samples, at that!

The pandemic wiped out the festival twice, and before that a strong pop-up storm — that seemingly came out nowhere the day of the event and prompted fears of high winds and tornadoes (that actually never came) — took it down another time.

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But nevertheless, Perez persisted.

She stayed in touch with breweries and distributors. Convinced her board that the festival was still a good idea for a fundraiser, even if they'd been snake bit more than once.

Taylor County strong

And the result is the event is still very much "a thing" on the local brewfest landscape four years later.

"Determination has been our key. We've been determined to build a great annual craft beer event in Taylor County," Perez told us this week when we asked what motivates her to keep growing the Big Bend Brewfest, despite some of the setbacks. "And the fact that the event has been so well received, we believe we are really on to something great — for a great cause. All the proceeds from this event help the Rotary Club of Perry award scholarships to deserving young students, as well as helping fund the Perry Police Department's Shop with a Cop program."

The event has raised $20,000 for the Rotary Club of Perry and the Shop With A Cop Program over the first three years, all while keeping its price point the most affordable of any of our area beer festivals.

General admission is just $30 for three hours of unlimited craft beer samples (5 to 8 p.m. ), and the price goes up to just $40 for VIP, which gets you in an hour earlier (4-8 p.m.), a goodie bag, a complimentary pretzel necklace, access to the VIP tent and food. (So, yeah — if you go, VIP is the way to do it, y'all!)

Great line up of beers

And the lineup of breweries participating once again looks great. Those committed to pouring include: Halpatter, Crooked Can, Brewing, 7venth Sun, Oyster City, Green Bench Brewing, Proof, Sweetwater, Tampa Bay Brewing, Armed Forces Brewing, Georgia Beer Company, Motorworks, Wicked Weed, Lake Tribe Brewing, Tampa Bay Brewing, Cigar City and Islamorada Brewing. The event will also feature three homebrewers from the local area: Hammerhead Brewing, Bromidic Brewing and Kiffin Brewing.

"We will also have vendors of all kinds, several food trucks and BBQ cooked on site for sale," Dawn said of the other amenities the event offers. "Corn hole games will be set up and a variety of jazz and easy listening music will play throughout the evening."

Perry, which doesn't have a craft brewery — yet — may be ripe for one soon, Perez says. There has been "buzz" about one coming, and she knows her event can only help show any potential brewery that Perry, loves its craft beer.

"Our downtown would be a perfect location for a craft brewery and the town would be very receptive to it," Perez said. "In the meantime, we want to raise as much money as possible for the charities that we support with this event, and we strive to make everyone feel welcome to ensure they have a great time! The Big Bend Brewfest is here to stay, and I hope to make it one of the largest brewfest events in the entire region."

Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Big Bend Brewfest is ready to pour in Perry next weekend