By Jessica Schultz
Fall is here, summer clocked out right at the end of its shift. Sweater weather, apple cider and spooky items have arrived in stores. But the party doesn’t stop because summer is over. There are plenty of great fall events to be involved in. Now is the time to get your tickets ahead for the 18th Annual Beer and Wine Festival at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY. Happening on November 12th, it’s an event you don’t want to miss. The Villager had a chance to speak with Director of Marketing Dash Hegeman about this year’s festival and what it has to offer.
The Villager (V): Beer and Wine is back for 2022; what’s new for this year?
Dash (D): “On November 12 we will be hosting the 18th Annual Beer and Wine Festival and it’s going to be a great one. We have a growing list of breweries, wineries and cideries from throughout the region that will be showcasing their finest beverages. Attendees will be able to sample their favorite drinks and ideally can find some new go-to beverages. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to get together and say goodbye to summer and fall as we await the start of the ski & snowboard season.”
V: What is the cost of the event? Will it be necessary to show Covid-19 vaccination proof to enter?
D: “Tickets can be purchased at holidayvalley.com/activities-events/beer-and-wine-festival/ Tickets purchased between October 1 and October 31 are $60. Tickets purchased between November 1 and November 10 are $65. The 10th is the last day of online sales. Tickets purchased on-site the day of the event will be $70. There’s also a Designated Driver ticket available the day of the event that is $10, which allows that ticket holder to sample food. No Covid-19 vaccination proof will be needed to attend this event. Beer and Wine Festival has been split into two sessions. Session 1 is from 1-4PM and Session 2 is from 5-8PM. This allows us to make the venue less crowded, which makes for a better overall experience for our guests.”
V: Who are the brewers being featured this year?
D: “To date, the participants are: Big Ditch Brewing, Bold Rock Cidery, Brazen Brewing Company, Britesmith Brewing, Buffalo Brew Pub, Clarksburg Cider, Community Beer Works, East Aurora Brewery, Eli Fish Brewing, Ellicottville Brewing Co., Empire Brewing, Founders Brewing Co., Flying Bison Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Labatt, Pressure Drop Brewing, Resurgence Brewing, Saranac, Sixpoint Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing, Steelbound Brewery & Distillery, Victory Brewing, Voodoo Brewing Company, Windy Brew, 12 Gates Brewing, 1911 Established Hard Cider, 42 North Brewing. There are likely some more that will be signing up as we get closer to the event and the list right now is an impressive one! The region is very well represented with some very creative and popular brands.”
V: Will there be live music? If so, who is playing, what do they play and where are they playing?
D: “It wouldn’t be a party without great music. We’ve got some local powerhouses playing the event. Sticktights will be playing the main floor of the event and the Tim Britt Band will be on the top floor.
Sticktights is a 4-piece band out of Western New York, who plays rock to folk to punk and a little of everything in between. They have a dedicated following in this area and always deliver a great show.
Tim Britt Band puts the “fun” in “funk”. A 4-piece band from Buffalo, NY, the band specializes in modern/alternative/folk music while blending in blues, new wave, funk, disco, soul and pop. They literally do it all.”
V: Anything else you would like to add?
D: “For anyone looking to make a trip out of this great event, we also have some great Lodging Packages for the Tamarack Club, The Inn at Holiday Valley and of course, the Holiday Valley Rental Properties. Those packages can be found by scrolling to the bottom of holidayvalley.com/activities-events/beer-and-wine-festival/”
Thank you, Dash, for taking the time to share all this great information about 2022’s Beer and Wine Festival. Remember to get your tickets for one of the sessions now!!