After celebrating 10 years of the 605 Summer Classic, 605 Magazine is excited to switch up the format of the annual music and all-South Dakota beer festival in 2020.



“Every year we get together and discuss what we do as a company and our mission. We decided to move from a concert with a South Dakota beer tasting attached, and flip that focus and do a beer tasting that has music,” said 605 Summer Classic founder and director John Snyder.



“As the event has grown over the years, booking national music acts, planning and coordinating them, and how they fit into our mission of promoting South Dakota have all felt less like something that we should be focusing on.”

Typically two days, the event will move to a one day on Saturday, June 20 and will have the beer tasting and music noon to 4 p.m. at Cherapa Place.



“Since 605 as a brand celebrates South Dakota, we’re going to set up the event like a map of the state, so you can go to ‘East River’ or ‘West River,’ and play games and interact with tents and sponsors,” said 605 Magazine owner Alana Snyder.



The People’s Choice

Patrons will vote for The People’s Choice award. Last year’s winner was Miner Brewing Company.



The center of the event will be a large tent that will have all of the South Dakota breweries coming together, and John says attendees will get a “passport” to get stamped by each local company they “visit.” Local and regional musicians will still be taking the stage during the tasting, and there will be food trucks and plenty of water.



“To focus on the growing craft beer community and give them their own event is deserving.”

“We’ve been known for bringing local and regional music, and we’re still excited to do so, just with a smaller scale stage setup to blend in more with the beer tasting changes,” said John.



The lineup will be announced this spring, along with participating beer vendors.



For more information, email jsnyder@605magazine.com.

