Beer events have a troubled history in Tarentum, but a new craft beer festival won’t be adding to that legacy and may forge a new one.
The first-of-its-kind event, held Aug. 28 at Dreshar Stadium, went without an issue, police Chief William Vakulick said.
“I was surprised,” he said.
Problems with the old “Tarentum Festival” including trespassing, public urination and fights caused Tarentum to ban alcohol at events on borough property in 2008, and that festival was not held since.
Councilman Brian Snyder, who proposed and organized the new craft beer event, vowed it would be different. Council in February approved having it, and amended the borough’s regulations prohibiting drinking alcohol on borough-owned property to allow it with council’s review and approval.
Snyder also said there were no problems or incidents during the festival, which ran from 3 to 10 p.m. that Saturday.
“I think it was great. It probably couldn’t have gone any better,” he said. “Everything was smooth. The attendees were very cool, very chill. It went super smooth.
“As the evening went on, I think people got more chill,” he said. “By the end of the evening, there was probably 50 to 100 people just sort of sitting in the grass watching the bands and just having a good time. It was amazing.”
The event featured five breweries. Six bands performed and there were eight food vendors, plus a number of artists.
Proceeds from the event, about $4,150, are being split between the borough’s three volunteer fire departments, Snyder said.
Pulling off the event was a lot of work, and for a long time, Snyder said it didn’t look like it would happen.
Snyder was grateful to Tim and Toni Emery of Infuzed Bistro in Brackenridge for helping to get breweries to participate, and to Brian DeFelices and Ernesto Camacho Jr. of the Manos Gallery for helping curate the art exhibits and other assistance.
Snyder said the borough’s special events committee hopes to have the craft beer festival again next year, and is looking for people interested in helping put it together.
“We’re looking for anybody that would be interested in joining the special events committee to help with it,” he said.
While word of the new event had prompted some concern and even opposition from residents, Snyder said he saw a comment online from someone saying they enjoyed listening to the music from their porch.
The last band wrapped up right on time, at 10 p.m., which Snyder said was amazing.
“People were respectful, polite and very complimentary,” Snyder said. “It was the kind of crowd we wanted. It just turned out great.”
