Tickets now on sale for annual event that brings regional breweries, cideries and wineries to Town Center for an afternoon of unlimited tastings, food and community
EL DORADO HILLS – As Northern California’s craft beverage scene continues to flourish, one of our local region’s late-summer traditions is preparing to return to El Dorado Hills.
With tickets now on sale, the ninth annual El Dorado Hills Brewfest promises another afternoon where craft beer enthusiasts, wine lovers and curious newcomers alike can discover new flavors, meet the people behind the beverages and enjoy one of the region’s signature community celebrations.
Presented by Red Hawk Resort + Casino and produced by the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, the 2026 El Dorado Hills Brewfest returns Saturday, Sept. 5, transforming El Dorado Hills Town Center into a lively open-air tasting experience featuring more than 40 breweries, cideries and wineries. The event also includes food, live entertainment and an atmosphere that has helped make Brewfest one of the foothills’ most anticipated annual festivals.
What began as a local tasting event has steadily grown into a destination celebration that attracts visitors from throughout the Sacramento region, including Folsom, Granite Bay, Cameron Park, Placerville, Roseville and beyond. While unlimited tastings remain the centerpiece, Brewfest has become just as well known for bringing together local businesses, independent beverage producers and thousands of guests for an afternoon centered on craftsmanship, hospitality and community.
This year’s festival once again stretches throughout El Dorado Hills Town Center, allowing guests to stroll Town Center Boulevard from the amphitheater to the bridge and Vine Street while sampling beverages in an inviting outdoor setting surrounded by restaurants, boutique shops and gathering spaces. Rather than remaining in one enclosed venue, attendees are encouraged to explore the district while interacting directly with brewers, vintners and specialty beverage makers from across Northern California.
That personal connection is one of the event’s defining characteristics. Instead of sampling drinks poured from anonymous distributor booths, Brewfest gives attendees the opportunity to meet the people responsible for creating the products. Brewery representatives are available throughout the afternoon to discuss brewing techniques, explain seasonal releases, recommend styles and share the stories behind their brands.
For longtime craft beer enthusiasts, those conversations often become as memorable as the tastings themselves. For first-time visitors, they offer an approachable introduction to a rapidly growing industry while making it easier to discover new favorites.
The result is an event that appeals equally to dedicated craft beverage fans and casual attendees simply looking for an enjoyable Labor Day weekend outing.
Among the participating breweries and beverage producers so far are BarnHaus Brewing Co., Boring Rose Brewing Co., 49 Crooked Lane Brewing Co., Feather Falls Brewing Co., Geartooth Alewerks, Granite Bay Brewing Company, Knee Deep Brewing Company, Lost Coast Brewery, Moirae Brewing Company, New Glory Craft Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Solid Ground Brewery & Winery, Two Ass Brewing Company, Urban Roots Brewery, Waymaker Brewing Company and Folsom’s own That Dam Brew Club. More are expected by event day.
The variety extends well beyond beer. Guests can also sample beverages from Golden State Cider, Gekkeikan Sake, KC Kombucha, Long Horn Lifestyle and other specialty beverage producers, offering an expanded tasting experience with something for nearly every palate.
Wine enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy. Participating wineries currently include Crystal Basin Cellars, Element 79 Vineyards, Myka Estates and Sentivo Vineyards, giving guests the opportunity to experience award-winning foothill wines alongside craft beer, cider and specialty beverages throughout the afternoon. In addition to those already secured, additional breweries and beverage partners continue to be added leading up to the event, further expanding an already impressive lineup.
For many attendees, one of Brewfest’s greatest attractions is the chance to discover breweries they may never have encountered otherwise.
While nationally recognized names such as Sierra Nevada and Lost Coast are expected to draw plenty of attention, much of the excitement comes from meeting smaller independent breweries that continue to shape Northern California’s nationally respected craft beer culture. Many visitors arrive with familiar favorites in mind but leave having discovered a new local brewery or beverage maker they plan to visit again.
That blend of established names and emerging producers has helped transform Brewfest into much more than a traditional beer festival.
Instead, it has become a showcase of the creativity and innovation taking place throughout California’s brewing industry, where longtime favorites stand alongside newer breweries introducing fresh recipes, seasonal releases and inventive approaches to brewing and fermentation.
Festival organizers are once again planning a variety of food offerings designed to complement the beverage selections, allowing guests to pair everything from barbecue favorites to lighter fare with dozens of available tastings. Combined with live entertainment scheduled throughout the afternoon, the festival creates an atmosphere that encourages visitors to relax, socialize and enjoy everything the Town Center setting has to offer.
The setting also supports one of the Chamber’s broader goals—introducing visitors to everything El Dorado Hills has to offer.
For many first-time guests traveling from neighboring communities such as Folsom and Sacramento, Brewfest becomes more than an afternoon of tastings. It also serves as an introduction to Town Center and the locally owned businesses that help define the community.
Those looking to elevate their Brewfest experience once again have the option of purchasing VIP admission.
VIP ticket holders receive entry beginning at 3 p.m., a full hour before general admission opens, allowing guests to enjoy shorter lines and a more relaxed atmosphere during the opening hour of the festival. VIP admission also includes access to an exclusive VIP area, complimentary refreshments, unlimited tastings served in a larger commemorative souvenir glass and the opportunity to sample beverages before the larger crowds arrive.
General admission begins at 4 p.m. and includes unlimited tastings served in an official souvenir tasting glass, along with a commemorative Brewfest wristband that grants access to the festival’s extensive lineup of breweries, wineries, cideries and specialty beverage vendors.
Advance general admission tickets are currently available for $59.60, including fees, while VIP admission is priced at $80.90, also including fees. Organizers report that early bird general admission tickets have already sold out, reflecting strong demand well ahead of the event. Limited party packs have also sold out, and any remaining tickets available on the day of the festival will be offered at higher pricing.
With previous Brewfests attracting strong attendance, organizers encourage guests to purchase tickets early before additional admission categories sell out.
The tasting portion of the festival continues until 7 p.m., but the celebration doesn’t end there.
As the afternoon transitions into evening, guests are invited to gather in the popular Wind Down Entertainment Area, where live music, games and a relaxed social atmosphere allow attendees to continue enjoying the company of friends old and new after the tasting concludes. The extended festivities have become a favorite tradition for many returning guests, providing an opportunity to unwind, revisit conversations from throughout the afternoon and soak in the vibrant atmosphere that has become synonymous with Brewfest.
While exceptional beverages remain at the heart of the event, Brewfest has evolved into something much larger than a tasting festival.
Each year, the celebration highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of Northern California’s independent breweries, wineries and specialty beverage producers while supporting the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing efforts to strengthen local business, tourism and economic vitality.
Thousands of visitors spend the afternoon exploring Town Center, dining in local restaurants, shopping in area businesses and discovering everything El Dorado Hills has to offer. For many participating breweries and wineries, the festival provides an opportunity to introduce their products to entirely new audiences while building relationships that extend well beyond a single afternoon.
For beverage makers, festivals such as Brewfest remain one of the industry’s most valuable opportunities to connect directly with consumers.
Rather than ordering a single pint or glass in a restaurant, guests can compare dozens of styles side by side, ask questions about ingredients and brewing methods, learn what inspires seasonal releases and hear firsthand how family-owned breweries and independent producers continue to shape California’s nationally recognized craft beverage industry.
Those personal interactions have become one of the event’s defining features.
Conversations between brewers and attendees often continue well beyond a simple tasting, creating lasting connections that inspire future visits to taprooms, wineries and tasting rooms throughout Northern California. For many guests, Brewfest isn’t just about discovering a favorite beverage—it’s about discovering the people, stories and passion behind it.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors can explore an impressive range of flavors, from crisp lagers and refreshing pilsners to hop-forward IPAs, rich stouts, barrel-aged specialties, handcrafted ciders, premium sake, kombucha and locally produced wines. The diversity of offerings reflects the remarkable depth of Northern California’s craft beverage scene and gives guests an opportunity to experience that variety without traveling from venue to venue.
As the region continues to earn recognition as one of America’s premier destinations for craft beer, wine and specialty beverages, events like the El Dorado Hills Brewfest play an important role in showcasing both established producers and emerging brands while strengthening the connections between local businesses and the communities they serve.
With another outstanding lineup already confirmed, additional breweries expected to join the roster and ticket sales already showing strong momentum, organizers are preparing for what promises to be another memorable edition of one of El Dorado Hills’ signature annual celebrations.
The 2026 El Dorado Hills Brewfest takes place Saturday, Sept. 5, at El Dorado Hills Town Center. VIP admission begins at 3 p.m., general admission opens at 4 p.m., tasting concludes at 7 p.m., and the festivities continue afterward in the Wind Down Entertainment Area with live music, games and opportunities to continue enjoying the evening. Advance tickets are available now through the Brewfest website at www.eldoradohillsbrewfest.org.
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