Courtesy of Addison Independent
A young group of festival-goers happily sample spirits at a past Midd Summer Festival in Middlebury.
Saturday, June 27 — MIDDLEBURY — Craft beverage and food fans unite! The Midd Summer Festival committee is gearing up for the fifth annual summertime beer, wine, cider and spirits tasting festival, transforming the historic Marble Works Riverfront Park into a sampling paradise on June 27 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Building on the momentum over the last four years, this year’s Booze, Blues and BBQ festival features over 35 of Vermont’s award-winning craft breweries, wineries and distilleries, mixing brand new companies with favorites from around the state.
Live blues grooves and sizzling local barbeque accompany this stellar lineup of vendors, as well as some of the state’s top artisan cheese and food producers. Get ready to sample new products from vendors just getting started and ready to impress their new fans.
New this year, Midd Summer Fest proudly welcomes Burlington-based blues band Left Eye Jump and the Chris Kleeman Band to the festival, who will rock the stage with lively blues music throughout the afternoon.
Left Eye Jump blends authentic blues from the 40s to today into a danceable medley all can enjoy. The group is led by guitarist and vocalist Dennis Willmott, and will play as a quintet at Midd Summer Fest, featuring horns, guitars, drums and bass.
Chris Kleeman is a master blues singer and song stylist with an energetic vibe that will get an audience bouncing along to the groove. Kleeman has been playing the blues for over 30 years and has worked with blues legends like B.B. King and Malkum Gibson throughout his career.
This special event will feature local, barbecued meats, supplied by our friends at Green Pasture Meats and Vermont Homegrown Fare. Plates of delicious BBQ will be available for purchase.
Due to the overwhelming response to this year’s festival, the riverfront site has been expanded to include the entire park, offering guests more space to move around the festival as well as lawn games and a photobooth supported by local businesses.
A limited number of VIP tickets are available for 3 p.m. entry to the festival as well as other VIP perks. Tickets for those 21+ are $30 ($20 in advance, on sale now); both VIP and general admission tickets include a souvenir tasting glass, 10 tasting tokens and access to all the amenities of the festival. Non-drinking admission is $10 and children under 6 are free. Please leave pets and strollers at home.
Many exhibitors will not only have samples to try, but will also have bottled product for purchase.
Get tickets and info online at www.middsummerfestival.com or at retail locations in downtown Middlebury.
