Craft beer lovers are known to be a charitable as well as a convivial bunch. It seems that there is always an event popping up to help the many deserving groups around town and across the country. And, on Saturday, February 22 the Riverside Rotary Club is holding the Riverside Craft Beer Festival at the Riverside Arts Market site under the Fuller Warren Bridge to help one of those worthy causes. This time the proceeds of the festival will go to fund a running/walking track at Stockton Elementary School to help promote exercise both at the school and for the neighborhood.

More than 60 craft beers will be available at the festival including beers from all of Jacksonville’s local breweries. In addition to local brews, thirsty visitors can expect to find beers from throughout Florida and the rest of the country. Like the recent Local Only Craft Beer Festival that was held at the Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Jacksonville, this festival will not have an admission fee and guests must purchase tickets to exchange for beers. Each ticket costs $2 and entitles festival-goers to a 7-ounce pour of craft beer.

Along with the wealth of craft beer to be enjoyed, the organizers have arranged for a number of food truck associated with the Jax Truckies to be at the festival. Hungry attendees can chow down with food from Grannie’s Chicken, Funkadelic Food Truck, Taste Buds Express, Chew Chew Food Truck, Blue Pacific Grill & Taco Bar, Chunky Tomato and Fusion Food Truck.

Entertainment for the festival comes from local bands Cougar’s Barrel and Grandpa’s Cough Medicine.

For those who would like a richer experience, VIP tickets are available. VIP guests can enjoy a tented VIP Only area, all-you-can-eat lunch catered by Mojo’s 4, access to special one-off craft beers that are not available to other attendees, a special keepsake mug and four beer tasting tickets. VIP tickets can be purchased by following the link below to the EventBrite site.

The festival takes place from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. For more details, go to the event’s Facebook page.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/riverside-craft-beer-fest-tickets-9880540964

https://www.facebook.com/riversidecraftbeerfest