As Pittsburgh slowly creeps into fall, many beer lovers in the city start preparing for the various alcohol-related festivals that spring up during the cool, crisp and eerie month of October. Because Pittsburghers love our beer, get your tickets before they sell out.
PNC All-Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival
The All-Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival is returning to PNC Park for the third year in a row on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The festival will host two sessions, one daytime and one evening, and more than 100 breweries and wineries will be on hand, along with live entertainment from DJs and bands, and interactive games like corn hole, giant Jenga and, yes, beer pong.
“There are some amazing beer festivals in Pittsburgh,” says festival producer Ray Sheehan. “Everyone works so hard to produce these events. One thing different [about the All-Star Festival] from other beer festivals is attendees being able to set foot on the [PNC Park] field. Just being out on the field is a different experience.”
Attendees also receive two tickets to any Pirates game (Sunday through Thursday) and a keepsake sampling glass.
In 2020, the All-Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival was voted as one of the Top 5 Best Beer Festivals in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.
Tickets start at $44 for general admission, while VIP tickets begin at $54. The event is open to ages 21 and up only and ID is required. A portion of the proceeds from the extravaganza benefit the Trauma Survivors Foundation, which provides trained therapists for emergency response efforts during and after traumatic events.
Halloween with Beers of the Burgh and Brew Gentlemen
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The Carrie Furnace becomes the Scary Furnace on Oct. 22 to satisfy your need for a ghostly experience while you enjoy local beers.
The beer fest will include a Halloween costume dance party, food vendors, live music — and maybe even paranormal activity at one of Pittsburgh’s historical industrial sites.
Longtime festival organizer Beers of the Burgh partnered with the Braddock-based brewery Brew Gentlemen to host the festival with 12 local breweries featuring samples of seasonal harvest ales. The beer festival will run from 4 to 6 p.m. with the Halloween party happening afterward until 10 p.m.
“Pittsburgh deserves the chance to attend an incredible Halloween party — killer costumes, a proper setting, great dance floor, delicious drinks,” says Alaina Webber with Brew Gentlemen. “In so many ways, we are trying to design and throw the kind of party we would want to attend with our friends.”
Webber says Beers of the Burgh’s devotion to supporting local breweries inspired the partnership and she is looking forward to “enjoying the opportunity to work together and learn from each other in the process.”
Beauty Slap will headline the outdoor stage with Title Town providing some soul and funk. DJs will keep the party going on the dance floor throughout the evening.
“Throwing events and parties has been part of our heartbeat as a company from early on — we love a good party!” says Webber. “We’re excited to get back to it in a space that we feel deeply connected to geographically, historically and aesthetically.”
Ticket prices vary from $31 to $48 depending on whether you are attending the tasting portion only or just the dance party or both. The event’s code of conduct prohibits harassment in any form.
Stay tuned for more beer and food festival news coming in our October event guide, such as the 15th Steel City Big Pour (moving to a new month this year) happening on Saturday, October 8 at Construction Junction in Point Breeze.