Indianhead_Brewer
Well-Known Member
Let me start with a little background here. Earlier this year I became a member on the board of directors for a local non-profit that is perpetually underfunded (i.e. - broke!). I joined the board hoping I could help an organization that is doing great things for our community and give back myself. Earlier this week we had a fundraising meeting and after having attended several of these meetings in the past with nothing fruitful ever occurring I opened my mouth and blurted out the words "craft beer festival" as a fundraising idea. I explained to everyone how beer festivals usually work (from the attendee's perspective). Everyone's eyes got big and agreed that this was a great idea to help raise funds. This idea hasn't been approved by the full board of directors, but I am guessing based upon the reception I got from the fundraising committee that this is going to be approved by the board this coming week.
Now for a little demographic info. We are located about 1.5 hours from Minneapolis, MN and 1.5 hours from Duluth, MN - two places where there is a substantial craft beer movement for the region. We aren't the largest community in the world and most people who drink beer around here prefer their good ol' Michelob Golden Light so it really wouldn't be locals we would be targeting with a beer festival. During the summer months though, our population at least doubles with people from the Twin Cities that own/rent cabins here. I mean you should see the steady stream of cars coming across the MN/WI border on a Friday afternoon. This is the demographic we would be targeting for a beer festival. It's this summer population that keeps a lot of people in business through the lean winter months.
I would really like to think that this crazy idea of mine will work, but I am pretty sure I am going to have to end up being the one to make things happen and it is going to be a lot of hard work. So what I am really looking for is some guidance from anyone on here that may have been/or currently is part of an organizing committee for a beer festival. Pointers? Tips? Where to start? Contacts? Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
Now for a little demographic info. We are located about 1.5 hours from Minneapolis, MN and 1.5 hours from Duluth, MN - two places where there is a substantial craft beer movement for the region. We aren't the largest community in the world and most people who drink beer around here prefer their good ol' Michelob Golden Light so it really wouldn't be locals we would be targeting with a beer festival. During the summer months though, our population at least doubles with people from the Twin Cities that own/rent cabins here. I mean you should see the steady stream of cars coming across the MN/WI border on a Friday afternoon. This is the demographic we would be targeting for a beer festival. It's this summer population that keeps a lot of people in business through the lean winter months.
I would really like to think that this crazy idea of mine will work, but I am pretty sure I am going to have to end up being the one to make things happen and it is going to be a lot of hard work. So what I am really looking for is some guidance from anyone on here that may have been/or currently is part of an organizing committee for a beer festival. Pointers? Tips? Where to start? Contacts? Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated!