Craft beer, wine and spirits makers all across Michigan’s Great Southwest routinely pop the corks, tap the kegs, and pour their spirits at their home venues every day, but once a year they gather together in one great celebration space at Weko Beach in Bridgman to do it en masse so that you and I have the opportunity to sample things across the board in one big party.
It’s called the Makers Trail Festival and it’s coming soon. On Saturday, June 8th, from 3 to 9 pm, Weko Beach will come alive thanks to the members of the Makers Trail. Tim Kading, who serves as Water & Parks Superintedent for the city of Bridgman, is the organizer. He says, “For the second year in a row you can sample the crafts of over 15 Berrien County wineries, breweries and distilleries all in one place.” The added bonus, says, Kading, is “Three live bands – The Newports, Top Secret and Slim Gypsy Baggage – will make this the beach party of the summer!”
Advance admission tickets are on sale now for only $10 (ages 10 years and up) at the link below. Children under 10 years are admitted free of charge. Gate admission will be $20 cash. Once you are inside the cash-only festival grounds, you can purchase drink tasting tickets for $1 each as well as food. An ATM will also be available on site. Here’s the link for tickets: http://MakersTrailFestival.org
The regional makers showcasing their new drinks and popular favorites will include:
- Arclight Brewing Company
- Black Dragon Meadery
- Gravity Winery
- Haymarket Brewery & Taproom
- Journeyman Distillery
- Lake Michigan Vintners
- Lazy Ballerina Winery
- Lehman’s Orchard Brewery & Farmhouse
- Lemon Creek Winery
- North Pier Brewing Company
- Red Top Winery
- Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery
- Silver Harbor Brewing Company
- Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant
- Tapistry Brewing
- Watermark Brewing Co.
- White Pine Winery
Included with admission is music by three regional bands:
- The Newports have their roots in Chicago’s south suburbs and play a mix of blues, funk, rock and soul.
- Slim Gypsy Baggage is a Southwest Michigan favorite which performs eclectic bluesy rock with soulful vocals.
- Top Secret from South Bend, plays with a mission to get everyone dancing to their 60s-to- today setlist.
Kading says they are still setting the lineup, so come early and stay late to hear all three bands pump out their setlists ‘til the sun starts going down.
In addition to the wide selection of drinks and music, the festival will serve non-alcoholic beverages and favorite summer foods from local vendors including Nosh Village food truck.
There will be free off-site parking at Eagle Technologies, Sunset Tool and American Electric Power industrial lots at the corner of Lake Street and Red Arrow Highway, and free shuttles will run frequently between the parking lots and Weko Beach as well as from several area hotels (the list is posted on MakersTrailFestival.org). There will be no parking at the beach.
For more information and updates, visit MakersTrailFestival.org.
