Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival celebrates 10 years

10 years ago, Mt. Pleasant Junior Chamber (now better known as the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees) hosted their first craft beer festival. It’s now become their largest fundraiser and a cherished Mt. Pleasant tradition. 

28 breweries participated in the 2024 Mt. Pleasant 10th Annual Craft Beer Festival held on Saturday, June 8 on Broadway St. in Mt. Pleasant. Despite a rainy day, throngs of revelers took to the streets in downtown Mt. Pleasant to find their new favorite beer or listen to live music with friends.

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantMusician Kevin Chamberlain toasts the crowd at the 10th Annual Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Planning for the inaugural festival began in 2013, when members of the Jaycees were looking for a way to bring community members and visitors together. The idea that resonated with that original planning group was the beer festival. Pairing live music, local food, and craft beer proved successful. 

“Being a part of the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival fills me with immense pride,” said Rachel Blizzard, a member of the event’s original planning team. “It’s incredible to think that just 11 years ago, a handful of us Jaycees gathered in a room and decided to make this happen. Now, it’s one of the most anticipated events in Mt. Pleasant.” 

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantHannah Martin and volunteers from the Jaycees sort event and sponsorship banners for the Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantGreg Balcom and volunteers from the Jaycees set up for the Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
The Jaycees reinvest the profit from the festival back into the local community. Since 2014, they have awarded nearly a quarter of a million dollars to local charitable, community, and governmental organizations.

In the last grant cycle, funds were awarded to Beal City and Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the United Way and the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation among others. To see a full list of fund recipients, visit https://www.mpbeerfest.com/proceeds. 

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantJedi Mind Trip headlines the live music lineup at the 10th Annual Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. Pleasant Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. Pleasant
The 2024 Craft Beer Festival schedule was highlighted by live musical performances by Kevin Chamberlain and Jedi Mind Trip. The crowd cheered for contestants in a traditional Oktoberfest-style stein holding competition.

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantContestants in the female division of the stein-holding competition at the Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024.Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. Pleasant
Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantBrenda McManus of Mt. Pleasant, MI wins the stein-holding competition at the Craft Beer Festival.
Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantAlex Zamarron of Munising, MI wins the men’s division in the stein-holding competition at the Craft Beer Festival.Between these festivities, event organizers recognized the Bird Bar and Grill and owners the Breidenstein family. The Bird has been the title sponsor for the Craft Beer Festival since its inception, donating more than $50,000 to make the event possible. 

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantFestival volunteer Lizz Galea of Mt. Pleasant pours a beer from the Four Leaf Brewing tap at the 10th Annual Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantDarin Evan (left) and Tim Palmer (right) of the Great Mead Hall & Brewing Co. in Bangor, MI pour samples for festival goers on Saturday, June 8 at the Craft Beer Festival.
“Supporting the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival is important to the Bird Bar and Grill and our family. Not only is it a fantastic community event, but it also raises substantial funds that directly benefit our local area. It’s a win-win situation that we are proud to be part of,” said Lois Breidenstein, owner of the Bird. 
 
“A great charity event that raises a lot of money that the Jaycees distribute right back into the community. You get to taste beer from around the state and eat awesome food from local vendors and restaurants. It’s a lot of fun,” added Ben Breidenstein, manager of the Bird.

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantEvent organizers present Rachel Blizzard and Ben Breidenstein an award in recognition of The Bird Bar & Grill’s ten years of support for the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
10 years ago, the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees tried to generate ideas for a fundraiser that would bring the community together. 10 years and more than $245,000 in community support later, it’s safe to say they found a winning idea. 

Photo Credit: Dan Gaken / Epicenter Mt. PleasantJake Eaton of Mt. Pleasant, MI plays frisbee with friends on Broadway St. at the Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024.