FRIDAY March 6, 2026
Regular Admission: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
VIP Access: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
SATURDAY March 7, 2026
AFTERNOON SESSION Regular Admission: 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM VIP Access: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
EVENING SESSION Regular Admission: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM VIP Access: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
night before the festival kicks off. These celebrated beers are then featured during the festival itself, allowing attendees first taste access to standout brews. This combination of competition and celebration has made the Down East Brewing Awards an important showcase for brewers and beer lovers alike. A Social Experience in New Brunswick Like No Other Part of what makes the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival so magnetic is the social atmosphere. Unlike some tasting events that feel rushed or transactional, the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival fosters conversation. Long tasting tables encourage guests to linger, swap recommendations, and laugh with old friends and new over a shared passion for craft beer. Many attendees plan their weekends around the festival. For some, it’s an annual tradition; for others, it’s an introduction to a world of flavours that they might never have discovered otherwise. Craft beer festivals like this play a vital role in connecting makers and consumers, and Fredericton’s event has become a hub where dialogue and enjoyment go hand in hand.
Organizers also emphasize responsible enjoyment, recognizing that fun and safety go together. In past years, initiatives such as safe taxi rides for attendees have underscored the festival’s commitment to ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves and get home safely. More Than Beer: The Culture Around the Craft While the brewery stands and tasting stations are the stars of the show, the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival highlights the larger culture around craft brewing. It’s part of a vibrant regional scene that includes year-round beer events like Beer on the Bridge, a sunset beer and music celebration along Fredericton’s Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, and the Northern NB Beer Trail, inviting visitors to explore breweries scattered across scenic routes — a testament to the depth and diversity of the craft beverage world here. Fredericton itself has earned a reputation as Atlantic Canada’s craft brewing capital, with more taprooms per capita than nearly any Canadian city — a reason many locals and visitors alike view the festival as both a celebration and a homecoming.
66 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 26 ISSUE 1
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 67
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator