The biggest craft beer festival in western Kansas, Brews on the Bricks, will be coming back to downtown Hays May 2.
The Downtown Hays Development Corp. announced this week that Brews on the Bricks tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 4, as early as 6:00 am.
"Tickets are normally sold for this event on Feb. 1," said Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director. "Since that date falls on a weekend this year and we already have prescheduled meetings the following Monday, Tuesday the 4th, it is."
After receiving several suggestions following the 2019 event, DHDC is making significant changes to this year's event. The first change is to increase the number of available VIP tickets and decrease the available GA tickets.
"We'll be doubling the number of VIP tickets from 250 to 500," Bloom said. "We feel we're able to do this, and do this comfortably, by adding an additional tent and more brewers. The extra people will still not feel like too big of a crowd, and our VIP ticket holders will still not have to deal with any lines to taste the variety of beers available."
The number of available GA tickets will decrease from 1,500 to 1,000. Bloom said this is to help alleviate long lines during the general admission time.
Once again, there will be several ways to get your hands on tickets.
Starting at 6 a.m., 200 VIP and 200 GA tickets will be available at the DHDC office, 1200 Main. Guests must be present to purchase. No phone calls, please.
At 7 a.m., 300 VIP and 600 GA tickets will go live at DHDC's website, www.DowntownHays.com.
At 5 p.m., 100 GA tickets will be available at both of the local Hays breweries, Gella's Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., and Defiance. Again, guests must be present to purchase.
Ticket prices and what is included are as follows:
VIP - Brews & Bites | $80 In-Office | $85 Online
General admission | $40 In-Office | $45 Online
A general admission ticket gets you a 4 oz sampling glass, free beverages from the sponsored Designated Driver Booth, and open sampling from 2 to 5 p.m.
The VIP ticket includes all that as well as a variety of food to sample, a full size .5 liter collectible glass, and 1.5 hours of early admission into the sampling tents.
DHDC expects this festival to be the best yet, and the event committee is working hard to impress brewers and guests alike. They expect more brewers than ever before, extra tents, great food, live music, more yard games, a photo backdrop to capture all those selfies, and more.
To stay up to date on attending breweries and event details, check out www.BrewsOnTheBricks.info. If you are interested in being a volunteer or a sponsor, you are encouraged to email [email protected].
— DHDC
