I have been going to the fest for a long time, mostly to see cover bands. They usually get a good…read moreoffering of bands. You do pay a cover to see the bands. Parking can be tight. Check the deck first. Local businesses sponsor the event and money raised goes towards scholarships.

We usually have a good time out here. There's a stage area for the bands to play, and they put out…read morea ton of chairs. Good news is, there's no line at the beer tents and plenty of food. Unfortunately, I had gotten rear ended in the parking garage downtown and they didn't leave a note.

A celebration of craft beer for hop heads, by hop heads? Though I don't pretend to know much about…read morehoppy beer, I'd like to learn... and a June day borrowed from 'A Time to Kill' (oh my mugginess!) in Two Brothers' parking lot seemed like a good enough place to begin my education. And so it began. Though the Hop Juice Festival is only in its third year, the juice is out of the bag and it's almost impossible to snag a VIP ticket unless you get on that super early (they're $65 and include five beers, admittance into the tap house, unlimited food + a special dinner buffet, a seat and access to real restrooms vs. porta potties). Otherwise, admission is free! After experiencing firsthand how wildly popular it is, I won't be surprised if it eventually morphs into an exclusive ticketed fest à la Three Floyds' Dark Lord Day. There is a point to all this madness: The fest commemorates the annual release of Hop Juice Double India Pale Ale (100 IBU's!) and also a beer exclusive to this festival, Hop Juice Black. I didn't try it, but was told it's Hop Juice's more aggressive sibling. In addition to Two Brothers brews, the much-hyped (and closely guarded 'til day of) guest beer list gets people going like Pavlov's dogs. The lines can be a bit intimidating, but don't let them deter you as they do move fast. What's important: Bring patience, sunscreen and a gypsy spirit - wandering around the grounds is fun and making new friends is easy! What isn't easy is finding parking (arrive early!) but the fantastic selection of exclusive and rare guest beer taps makes up for it... as does the food! Two Brothers serves turkey legs, housemade bratwurst, their famed fish tacos and more on the cheap - many of the items are only $4! Eight hours of live music will keep you entertained and the Brothers dedication to the Make-A-Wish Foundation makes this a feel-good affair. Well done good sirs!

Two Brothers spiced things up a bit this year with the addition of Hop Juice Black - a slightly…read moremeaner cousin to an already strong but well balanced beer. The balance in flavor helps hop juice from being feared by those who like a lighter beer but still provides plenty of punch to those who prefer something a bit heavier. This celebration is all about these beers and their release into the wild for the masses to consume. It also features the rest of the Two Brothers beer line-up, some great Two Brothers food (love the fish tacos!) and guest beers from other breweries like Lagunitas. On that topic, if you really want a guest beer get a lay of the land - there is a limited quantity of brew and there are 2 lines in a close area. I missed the Lagunitas Barrel Aged Imperial but I did get my hands on another guest brew later. The lines were a bit long this year, but nothing I wouldn't expect out of any similar event. With any kind of planning you can pick up food / beer tickets when you buy your take-home beer and avoid the other line all-together. Food lines were long earlier in the day but there was no wait later in the evening. Some of the day the Hop Juice lines were non-existent, and other times there was a decent wait. Things averaged out to be as-expected, but I wonder if there isn't some way to improve on it a bit for next year. In any case, the juice was loose and the crowd was great. It's good seeing people you know and meeting new ones while enjoying fresh, delicious, libations from a great brewer. Overall I had a great time and I'll be back again next year!

This was a fun experience! I love going to brewfests and this is the first one I've gone to in the…read moreburbs. The set up was in the stadium of the ballpark, not in the actual field but up where the concessions and bathrooms are. This wasn't a very crowded event and I think it might be because there isn't much advertisement about it. I only knew of this from a friend as well as an invite to Yelp elites - a giveaway which had ballpark brewfest tkts. Lots of local breweries and a few food options. This is a great place to start if you haven't been to a brewfest before and are interested in checking one out. Very chill and not as chaotic as most. My 2 'cons' are I wish they would have had the event in the field vs on the level of where the concession stands and bathrooms are. I think the vibe and the ambiance would be better on the field. I also didn't get a ballpark brewfest cup, I got a plastic clear cup which is fine. But again, vibe changes when it comes to little things like that. Overall this was a fun time! I recommend this to those who enjoy drinking beers, seltzers, etc in a chill and casual environment.

Had the opportunity to attend Brewfest this year. It was a fantastic experience, with many vendors…read moreand a variety of beers, and other drinks. There was a long line to get in, but it moved relatively fast. You received a 3 oz glass upon entering. The vendors were set up in the concourse. Lines were reasonable and moved very fast. The breweries were all local and each offered at least 2-3 options. You can actually sample as many beers as you like, there was not a tracking system. Concessions were open, and there were 2 food trucks , each were fantastic There was a band, but it was located in the back of the picnic area and you could only hear if you were in that area. Overall, a great way to try lots of different beers. There were also ciders, seltzers and cocktails!

This fundraiser, benefitting St. Viator's School and Parish, is a great way to enjoy craft beer &…read moreBBQ pairings, while lending some fundraising dollars into the community. Started in 2014, 2015's event was August 1, and made some great improvements! Who doesn't love to enjoy beer from 15 local & big named craft breweries? Reveloution, Half Acre, Finch's, Lake Effect, Haymarket, Off Color, Solmen Oath, Alarmist, Pipeworks, and more. Each brewer had two pourings on hand, and one was to be enjoyed as a pairing with a BBQ tasting option. You get to enjoy all 15, and vote on them, as celebrity judges from Smoque, SMalls, Lillie's Q, make their own choices for best beer, best bbq, best pairing. I went in 2014 and it was great. Even better in 2015, they added a huge tent with tables, added a 50/50 raffle, bean bags, access to indoor bathrooms (no porta potties!), and improved the program. The early bird price was $50 for 1-5pm access, and VIPs got an hour more. I love this local craft beer fundraising event and hope to make it again in summer 2016.

Booths of beer unite under this secret auditorium in Logan Square hidden right between the doors of…read moreLula's Cafe. For the next 4 hours you can drink lots of beer, some maybe good, some maybe not so good, some are weird, and yet, oddly endearing. For 2015 - we were given a list of brewers (20 tables), sample glass (too keep), a raffle ticket (hang on for the prizes) and a piece of paper with the numbers 1-50, presumably to track your samples (fyi - toss it, nobody cares!!!). Glad to have checked out this beerfest. I got to sample some new breweries that I can't seem to remember, I'll have to look at my Untappd history. There were quite a selection from churro to s'more to dirty melon beers out there. My favorite ZumBier's Zesticle (yes, it is mango), the strangest one Arcade's Pale Minotaur - is that cheese? Most of the festivities were in the auditorium with 3 tables upstairs. Lines, if any, moved very fast for each booth. Some brewers had hourly sections to sample their beer, and most booths had 2 or 3 to try from, so there was never a line. A band was playing and Haute Sausage sold food. The women's bathroom has only 2 toilets which could be a wait, but luckily it wasn't bad. Overall, I had a good time, but thought the charge for admission to be a bit high. I might be old, but towards the end of the first session, the music got very loud.

A great family experience every year! Enjoy it each time. Safe fun for everyone each time.read more

Standard neighborhood summer festival. Lots of rides, good food options. Went during the day on a…read moreSaturday, not too crowded at all. I'll return next year.

Free party? I'm…read morethere. Okay, this isn't your traditional party. In fact, it's more like free, live, outdoor entertainment in coordination with many of the area's independent businesses, but it's a nice way to spend an evening while roaming through Elmhurst's bustling City Centre. Here's the deal: From Memorial Day to Labor Day, every Wednesday and Saturday evening from 6-9pm, downtown Elmhurst's City Centre hosts a variety of talented musician under tented pop-ups throughout the city. Most are in areas that overlook outdoor patios or have plenty of public seating to enjoy. The acts, as far as I witnessed, were pretty outstanding, although the temporary tents make for a very casual, almost easy to miss, setting. We kept walking through downtown Elmhurst and thinking we were just hearing some loud speakers from a nearby bar that was playing Kings of Leon, Darius Rucker, LIVE, Bob Dylan and other well-known artists on a jukebox or something, but it wasn't. It was the sounds from the four different tents set up through downtown Elmhurst carrying over. The whole thing was really cool and very unexpected as we'd just kept kind of wandering into these neat pop-up live shows on different corners. Each band, singer, duo, etc really shocked us with their level of talent and performances. For me, being hard of hearing, it was better than going to a concert because here I could actually hear every note and word clear s day. Some of the tents were busier than others, but I think that was due to some areas being better for seating and such, but in any case, mild crowds formed, families danced, young girls swooned, it turned our leisurely stroll around the town into a really romantic night. In addition to the musical acts, area businesses offer super drink food and drink specials and I believe, if you stop by the City Centre office during daytime hours, and ask nicely, they have little postcard type gift certificates for $5 good at almost all the downtown Elmhurst businesses and a great excuse to stop for a beer or wine. On Wednesday I believe there's also a classic car show, so it probably gets pretty crowded, but on our Saturday stroll, the conditions were perfect, it wasn't at crazy. Again, the set up is really casual and you could walk by and just catch a few musical moments, but it's worth it to grab a coffee or grub at a nearby biz and set up shop near one of the pitch-perfect tents for a relaxing and budget-friendly evening.

Elburn Days is not just a fest, it's an entire community stopping to celebrate and take some time…read morefrom the every day norm to let loose. You can take the train, drive straight in on 38, or shoot down 47. There's plenty of parking all around the city, and even if you walk around town, which there are some quaint shops and bars to eat... AND DON'T FORGET REAMS!, you aren;t far from the fest. Highly recommend a visit, you won' be disappointed.