Post Date: 08/08/2018 10:30 AM

Proceeds will benefit the “Restore the King” effort sponsored by The Friends of Delaware’s Gambrinus, Inc.

Mayor Mike Purzycki and Joe Van Horn, owner of Chelsea Tavern, invite citizens to attend the second annual Downtown Wilmington Brew Fest on Saturday, August 11, 2018, at 821 North Market Street. Wilmington’s newest and already popular craft beer festival kicks off with a sold-out VIP tasting at Noon and will feature over 100 brews representing more than 50 local breweries during the one-day, all-ages event.

General admission beer pour begins at 1:30 p.m. and runs to 5:30 p.m., with live music offered from 2 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available online and at the door. For tickets to the Wilmington Brew Fest contact (302) 482-3333, or visit: https://beerfests.com/events/downtown-wilmington-brew-fest.

The festival will present music by The Susquehanna Floods, Genesis Z & The Black Mambas, and Kitty Rotten with DJ Shady Lady spinning between sets. Also featured will be eight local restaurants as well as food trucks and artisan vendors. In addition to the early tasting opportunity, VIP patrons will enjoy a designated VIP area and access to a number of “special brews” and beer-friendly finger foods. There will be discounted Lyft travel incentives and a Home Brew Competition.

“We are pleased to host another Downtown Wilmington Brew Fest and to welcome thousands of craft beer enthusiasts back to Market Street for an afternoon of fun as diverse local breweries show off their wares,” said Mayor Purzycki. “This has already been a wonderfully busy summer of festivals and events in Wilmington, which points to a City that likes to enjoy itself and welcomes others to our parties and events.”

“We hope that visitors and Wilmingtonians alike take the opportunity to come downtown, enjoy the city, and experience all of the positive changes happening here,” added Chelsea’s Van Horn.

Mayor Purzycki said it’s important to know that the Wilmington Brew Fest helps to preserve a part of the City’s history. A percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the “Restore the King” initiative sponsored by The Friends of Delaware’s Gambrinus Statue. The iconic 136-year-old King Gambrinus statue adorned the former Diamond State Brewery building at Fifth and Adams Streets from 1882 until 1962 when the brewery was demolished for the construction of Interstate 95.

The 11-foot-tall zinc statue, which was removed from the brewery prior to its demolition, was dropped and shattered in 1978. Its pieces remain in storage. Restoration is estimated to cost about $100,000. Once it is restored, the Friends of Gambrinus plan to donate the king to the Delaware Historical Society on Market Street for long-term presentation and preservation.

For more information about the restoration of the King Gambrinus statue visit: RestoreTheKing.com

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News and information from the Office of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov

Paul Ford Jr.

Communications Specialist

Mobile: (302) 530-2171

Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov



Dan Sanchez

Digital & Social Media Manager

Mobile: (302) 605-0026

Email: dsanchez@WilmingtonDE.gov