Community Corner

Thousands Expected to Flock to Naperville Ale Fest This Weekend; Tickets Still Available

The second annual Naperville Ale Fest will be held on the grounds of the Naper Settlement on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Over 4,000 craft beer lovers are expected to flock to the Naper Settlement in downtown Naperville this weekend for the second annual Naperville Ale Fest. 

This year's event will feature 200 craft beers, artisan craft ciders and great food offerings and will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday on the tree-lined grounds of the Naper Settlement — an outdoor history museum located at 523 S. Webster St. 

Tickets are still available on the Naperville Ale Fest website. For $45, visitors to the festival will receive, entrance to the Ale Fest, 15 3-ounce samples and will get a commemorative festival sampling glass and program guide. Designated driver tickets are available for $15. Additional sampling tickets are available for sale on site. 

The festival will also feature music from the Dirty Ernie Band, which describes itself as a “lean, mean hard rocking Blues band," and from the 4-Star Brass Band, which will provide a special New Orleans-style welcome to visitors entering the grounds, according to a Naperville Ale Fest press release. 

“The Naperville Ale Fest is shaping up to be one to the largest selections of craft beer in the Midwest,” says organizer Josh Seago of Lou Dog Events.  “It’s a unique opportunity to interact with the brewers and learn more about the breweries.  No matter your level of craft beer expertise, you’re bound to learn something new and discover a new favorite.”

New to the Naperville Ale Fest is Cider Alley, offering 20 hand crafted hard ciders to be sampled side-by-side.  

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“These are small batch artisanal ciders brewed by companies in Michigan, Oregon and Vermont, including offerings by Wandering Aengus, Virtue and Vander Mill.  I think folks will really enjoy this addition to the line-up,” Seago said. 

Food offered by popular Naperville-area eateries will include Pulled Pork and Barbequed Brisket by Sharko’s BBQ,  Indian Fusion by O’Mango, Gourmet Chicken Sandwiches from Kick’s Chicken Cafe, Tacos from Fire it Up Taco Fusion, and Naperville-favorite wings from Cross Town Pub.  

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In addition, popular food trucks that first appeared at the Naperville Winter Ale Fest will return, including Chicago Pizza Boss, offering brick oven pizza as well as gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches from Toasty Cheese, the truck named one of Chicago’s Best by WGN TV.  

Dessert will be offered by Cupcakes for Courage, which provides a variety of scrumptious sweet cakes while raising money for cancer research.  

"These vendors have been chosen for their high end, gourmet offerings that pair well with craft beer," according to the Naperville Ale Fest press release. 

Free parking will be available near the site at Naperville Central High School, the Naperville Municipal Center and Downtown parking garages. 

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Naperville Heritage Society.     


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