Spring Break will get a victory lap at the 16th annual Greater Gator Beer Festival this weekend.
The festival will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Magnolia Parke, 4700 NW 39th Ave.
There will be free, unlimited samples of more than 100 beers, samples from Gainesville restaurants, soft drinks and bottled water, according to the event website.
You must be 21 or older to attend the festival and must bring a photo ID.
Ricki Black, organizer of the event, said people fly and drive across the state to come to the festival. Sometimes, she said, they mark the date on their calendars and call her to confirm it’s still on.
“People seem to love it,” Black said. “It’s a chance for people to try beers that they have never tried before.”
Advance tickets can be purchased for $25 at floridabeerfestivals.com and general admission will be $30. “Instant In” tickets are $40, which will let participants skip the line at 1 p.m. and go straight into the festival.
VIP tickets cost $50 and provide the perks of an “Instant In” ticket and access to finer food, beers and wines. Black said proceeds from the sales will go to the Helpful Hands Foundation.
For Black, the 16th annual Greater Gator Beer Festival will be like a Sweet 16.
“It’s a party,” she said. “People really have a good time.”
