BERWYN’S FIRST CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE LOCAL FOOD AND MUSIC FAVORITES

Berwyn’s First Craft Beer Festival to Showcase Local Food and Music Favorites

Berwyn, IL (May 2014) The inaugural Berwyn Brew Fest, scheduled for Saturday, June 21 from 1:00-5:00 pm in Berwyn’s Proksa Park, will feature local favorite blues rockers Fulkinetic, including singer Fil Kinetic, guitarist Dr. Rufus and drummer Eric Yoder. The group has been performing together as Fulkinetic for the past five years after playing together as session musicians at Yoder’s Berwyn recording studio for many years.

The festival will have a diverse menu of local eateries from which to choose, including hand-crafted, authentic Mexican from Tacos Y Salsa as well as “Chicago’s Best” barbecue from Cigars and Stripes BBQ Lounge and “Chicago’s Best” crazy creative burgers from Paisans Pizzeria & Bar. Fest-goers will enjoy over 80 unique beers from craft breweries across the country, including locals Goose Island and Revolution Brewing as well as Dogfish Head from Delaware and Firestone Walker Brewing out of California. Organizer Josh Seago of Lou Dog Events says visitors will enjoy the unique experience of sampling in a festival atmosphere.

“Some of these beers people may have heard of before, and some brewers will be familiar, but a fest offers the opportunity to experience the beers through the eyes of the brewer, discuss characteristics and compare and contrast a number of different styles and flavor profiles,” Seago says. “The experience is enhanced by the great and popular local restaurants that are offering up foods that pair beautifully with the brews. And of course, great music just makes it a party.”

The band describes Fulkinetic this way: “Remember Jimi (Hendrix) trying to synthesize all types of music…Beatles, Dylan, Miles, Isleys, Motown, all this stuff, and then he added Jimi to it? We’re of the same mindset, and we share a lot of influences with him…we’re sharing our spin on it.”

The fest will take place at Proksa Park, 3001 West Wisconsin Avenue in Berwyn, just blocks from the Depot District. Free parking is available along the BNSF Metra tracks and fees will be waived in the Depot District Parking Facility at 3320 S Grove Ave on the day of the event. A free shuttle will taxi event-goers between Proksa Park and the parking deck.

Berwyn Park District Executive Director Jeff Janda stated, “We see this as a great opportunity to show off what I believe is one of the prettiest parks in the western suburbs, and we are proud to help make Berwyn a destination.”  He explains, “60,000 people pass through here every day on the Burlington line.  We want them to get acquainted with what a fantastic place Berwyn is to stop and visit, to shop and dine.”

The net proceeds from the festival will benefit the Moving Wall Initiative. The Moving Wall is the half size replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It was conceived of and built by Vietnam Veterans as a remembrance and healing tool for all those people who may never have a chance to visit the Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Moving Wall will come to the Berwyn Park District’s Proksa Park from August 7 through August 11, 2014.

The Berwyn Brew Fest is hosted by the Berwyn Development Corporation and sponsored by Berwyn Kia, Lynx Real Estate LLC, Forest Park National Bank & Trust Co. and Yelp.

For more information, visit www.berwynbrewfest.com. Follow the event on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BerwynBrewFest. For more information on the Moving Wall, visit movingwall.berwynparks.org .

About the Berwyn Development Corporation
The Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) markets Berwyn regionally and nationally as a prime business and leisure destination. We are here to promote Berwyn’s energy and culture to visitors and residents and to create unique development opportunities for business. The BDC is a public-private partnership with the City of Berwyn that provides economic development and Chamber of Commerce services to all segments of the Berwyn community. We are a not-for-profit membership organization that serves over 300 businesses and individuals. The BDC continually strives to develop new programs, services and events that promote the community. For more information, visit berwyn.net, whyberwyn.com or follow the BDC at facebook.com/WhyBerwyn.