Charleston Beer Fest Crushes Annual Event

By Robin Gibson

About 4,100 people filled Riverfront Park in North Charleston on May 18 to sample more than 80 beers from around the Carolinas, making it the largest event in the festival’s eight-year history. People came from all over the region and well beyond, with ticket buyers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Michigan, California, New York, Texas and more.

The 2019 Charleston Beer Fest presented by Tabor Mortgage Group moved to Riverfront Park this year to accommodate the growing event and the region’s growing beer scene. More than 40 breweries participated in this year’s event, including more than 20 breweries from the Charleston area. Festival-goers consumed 2,356 gallons of beer while also enjoying games, a dozen musical acts and entertainment, craft vendors, food trucks and a Homebrewers’ Village.

All proceeds from the Charleston Beer Fest benefit Palmetto Community Care in its work providing complete compassionate HIV care and prevention education awareness across the tri-county area. This year’s festival generated more than $140,000 for the nonprofit organization.

“We’re really thrilled with this year’s Charleston Beer Fest,” said Jason Kirk, director of development & marketing for Palmetto Community Care. “We are already hard at work planning for the 2020 event and looking at ways to make the festival even better. This event is truly Charleston’s premiere beer festival.”

Photo credit Stan Foxworthy/Foxworthy Studios