Craft beer festival returns to Galveston on Labor Day weekend

BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival will be Labor Day weekend in Galveston. It's been named as USA Today's "Best Destination Event" and ranked as the "Best International Event" by Thrillist. BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival will be Labor Day weekend in Galveston. It's been named as USA Today's "Best Destination Event" and ranked as the "Best International Event" by Thrillist. Photo: Steven David, Photographer Photo: Steven David, Photographer Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Craft beer festival returns to Galveston on Labor Day weekend 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Named as USA Today's "Best Destination Event" and ranked as the "Best International Event" by Thrillist, BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival lets visitors tap into the world of craft beer over Labor Day weekend on Galveston Island.

On Sept. 2-4, the seventh annual BrewMasters will feature more than 400 craft beers, rare "Taste it First" selections, brew-licous cuisine and opportunities to learn from the best in the craft beer industry.

Craft breweries represent more than 12 percent market share of the entire beer industry, and the Brewers Association, www.brewersassociation.org/, sees no signs of it slowing, according to Clifton McDerby, executive director of Food & Fine Time Productions Inc.

"Our vision has always been to produce the best quality craft beer festival in the state by providing beer lovers with the widest selection of craft beers available at any Texas festival, along with brew education as well as introducing new brews that are available for the first time at BrewMasters," said McDerby.

Friday, Sept. 2, kicks off at 7 p.m. with Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila Tasting, a spicy new event. The popular BrewMasters Friday Night Pub Crawl begins at 8 p.m. where guests can climb aboard a party bus and tour some of Galveston's bars, meet featured Brew Brains and their craft selections along the way.

Saturday, Sept. 3, is all about craft beer, and the breweries that make it happen. Since Texas ranks sixth in the amount of craft beer produced each year, visitors won't want to miss the Texas Brewery Tasting Tour. Each brewery will offer a "Taste it First" selection from 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

On Saturday afternoon, the ultimate BrewHaHa Grand Tasting begins with the chance to sample more than 400 beers. The BrewHaHa VIP Premium Lounge provides early access to the tasting floor plus an exclusive space with live music, food and premium sampling. The Auchentoschan Scotch VIP Zone opens at 2 p.m. with the Grand Tasting at 3 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday nights feature Beach, Brews and Bands at Moody Garden's Palm Beach with a concert each night.

New to the festival is the Brew-B-Que from noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, featuring smokehouse specialties by local Pitmaster Patrick Feges, live music and plenty of brews.

Feges, owner of Feges BBQ, has worked at some of the best restaurants around Houston.

Visit http://www.brewmastersbeerfest.com/ for information.

League City

Sixteen Quidditch teams from across the nation and Canada will descend upon League City Aug. 20-21 for the 2016 Major League Quidditch Championship. With broomstick in hand, they will compete at Hometown Heroes Park for the coveted Benepe Cup in the 2016 Major League Quidditch Championship.

The park is located at 1071 League City Parkway, in League City.

Visit www.visitleaguecity.com for details.

Pearland

The fifth annual Wine and Food Festival will be noon-8 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Pearland Town Center Pavilion, 11200 Broadway, Pearland.

Dionisio Winery, the hosting winery, said the festival will feature multiple local Texas wineries, local food vendors and 30& additional local craft and specialty item vendors for shopping.

The group Thermal Fusion will perform.

A Kick Off Party highlighting Texas Gulf Coast shrimp will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Pearland's Dionisio Winery, 2635 Miller Ranch Road #103, Pearland. Tickets are $75 per person and available through Eventbrite.

Attendees to the Friday night Kick Off Party will gain complimentary entrance to the festival the following day.

This year, a portion of the festival proceeds will benefit, through a sponsorship, an upcoming expo assisting the development of innovative programs that provide homeless youth the assistance, training and resources to make a successful re-integration into society. Stand Up for Kids is a nonprofit whose mission is to, "End the Cycle of Youth Homelessness."

Visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets. Online sales start at $30 for a full package that includes festival entrance, 10 tasting tickets and a souvenir glass. Day of admission tickets will start at $40.

The VIP tent will include exclusivity with a few of sponsored items and requires an additional fee of $25 per person.

Visit http://www.dionisiowinery.com/DionisioWinery/index.html for information.

Pearland

The Pearland Alliance for Arts & Culture and Pearland Arts League will host the second annual "Fusion of the Arts 2016" from 1-7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Reflection Bay Event Center, 12234 Shadow Creek Parkway, Building 7. Free admission.

The league will present performances from the Allegro Pearland Academy of Music, Kidsbackporch Productions, Pearl Theater and Global Organization for Divinity (India style dance group).

Pearland Arts League's sixth annual Juried Art Exhibition will be on display during the afternoon with awards being presented at 6 p.m.

The art exhibition will be expanded to include not only painting, but also photography and sculpture. The juror will be artist Patrick Palmer, faculty chair and Studio School Dean of the Glassell School of Art.

Visit www.pearlandartsleague www.visitpearland.com or www.pearlandalliance.org for information.

Pearland

The fourth Pearland International Festival on Sept. 16-17 will feature an intimate adult-only Friday evening concert followed by a full day of family activities and entertainment on Saturday at The Pearland Town Center.

More than 16,000 visitors attended last year and organizers expect that number to increase this year.

To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.PearlandiFest.org or email info@PearlandiFest.org or contact 291-993-8817.