5th Annual Beer in the Woods

9/20/2021 to 9/25/2021

Event Details

We can’t wait for you to join us at  LaBagh Woods on Saturday, September 25, 1 - 6 p.m.  for the best beer and nature festival in the Chicagoland area. Take a stroll through the woods on a guided bird walk, learn about snakes while one slithers up your arm, participate in a flash bioblitz (don’t worry – you’ll learn what that is!), and drink some of the region’s most delicious craft beer and cider. All this and much, much more! This year we’ll  also  have a  week-long virtual festival leading up to Saturday’s event!  Starting Monday, September 20 through Friday, September 24, we’ll offer a virtual program each night from 6-7 p.m. Learn about the natural world, enjoy beer with a brewmaster, and even find some inner peace with a virtual yoga class. The virtual festival is perfect for folks who can’t make it to Saturday’s event and for diehards who can’t get enough Beer in the Woods! Register Here Tickets for each festival are sold separately, but there is a discount for purchasing tickets to both. And, there's more! We'll also have an online auction and an in-person raffle. Win beer, camping gear, a private bird walk for four, and more! For the fastest updates on breweries, cideries, and activities, give us a "like" on our  Facebook  event page. Purchasing tickets to either festival means: You’re helping to make the world a better place. All of the proceeds from this event will be used to ensure that land, water, and life will always thrive in the forest preserves. You’re supporting local businesses. The pandemic has hit small businesses and breweries especially hard. We’re proud to partner with amazing local businesses that help our neighborhoods thrive. You know how to have fun! Beer in the Woods isn’t just about sampling local craft beers and ciders, it’s about connecting with nature, friends, and your inner adventurer. Sponsorship opportunities are available.  Want to reach an engaged audience of beer aficionados and nature enthusiasts? Then contact Ilana Federman at ilana@fotfp.org or 312-356-9990 ext. 305 for details on how you can become a sponsor or make a donation today. Delicious beverages thanks to these wonderful folks (list subject to change): Alarmist Brewing Aleman Bold Dog Beer Co. Cahoots Brewing Casa Humilde CHAOS Brew Club City Water Hard Seltzer Dovetail Brewery Eris Brewery and Cider House Forbidden Root Gigawatt Coffee Roasters Lil Beaver Brewery Maplewood Marz Community Brewing Company Midwest Coast Old Irving Brewing Co. On Tour Brewing Company Phase Three Brewing Company Pipeworks Brewing Co. Ravinia Brewing Company Right Bee Cider Saugatuck Brewing Co. Shortfuse Brewing Company Sketchbook Brewing Company Solemn Oath Temperance Beer Co. Two Doors Down Urban Brew Labs Whiner Beer Co. Food for purchase from these great folks: Fat Shallot Urban Tables Entertainment and displays courtesy of these amazing folks: BFF Bikes DJ CatieO Frog Lady Presentations Gnome Brew Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education RHINO Poetry Magazine Programming provided by these talented folks: Yoga in the grass by Jenny Arrington of Rebel Human Family wellness walks by Elizabeth (Betsy) Duke, Psy.D., Clinical Director & Licensed Clinical Psychologist at LifeWorks Psychotherapy Center Bird walks by Jeff Skrentny, Friends member and LaBagh Woods volunteer Lichen walks by Todd Widhelm, Collections Manager (Mycology and Lichenology) at the Field Museum Flash bioblitz using iNaturalist by Derek Ziomber, North Branch Field Organizer at Friends Virtual festival line-up brought to you by these groovy folks: "Meet Your Local Reptiles and Amphibians" by Frog Lady Presentations "Yoga from Temperance Brewery" by Rebel Human "Behind the Scenes Tour and Virtual Beer Tasting" by Old Irving Brewing Co. And more TBD! Generous support from these caring folks:  Anonymous donation in honor of Jeff Skrentny and his volunteer restoration efforts at LaBagh Woods Blue Brain Consulting Bronca Cabot Creamery Co-operative David Lee Csicsko Perrenial Artisan Ales Pizzo Group REI Co-op Revolution Brewing Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC Target Third Coast Birding Whole Foods Market Wines for Humanity FAQs: Where is LaBagh Woods? LaBagh Woods is a forest preserve at the corner of W. Foster Ave. and N. Cicero Ave. in the Sauganash Neighborhood on the northwest side of Chicago. The address is 5275 N. Cicero Ave. and can be accessed via N. Cicero Ave. This event takes place in Groves 2 and 3.  View map for exact location. Are there ID or minimum age requirements? All ages are welcome, but you must be 21 or older with a valid ID to drink at this event. Children five years or older must have a ticket. Non-drinker tickets are available for $15. Do I need to wear a mask? Masks are no longer required for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated people must wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event? There are parking lots throughout LaBagh Woods (enter at 5275 N. Cicero Ave., just south of W. Berwyn Ave.). We strongly encourage bringing a designated driver. Non-drinker tickets are available for $15. Biking is also a great option. LaBagh Woods is accessible via the North Branch Trail, which runs for nearly 20 miles through Cook County. Bike racks will be provided at no cost to you! View a bike map to find the best route: http://bit.ly/2uWD4J5. Public transportation or a rideshare service may be an option as well. LaBagh Woods is accessible via the #92 Foster Avenue bus (http://www.transitchicago.com/bus/92/). Get off at Foster & Cicero and follow the signs to Grove 2. What is not allowed at this event? No glass No guns No outside beer, no beer sharing, and no bottle sharing What's the refund policy? All sales are final, but transfers are allowed. This event will take place rain or shine, unless there is lightning. If this event is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, your ticket price will be considered a donation to Friends of the Forest Preserves.   Will tickets be sold at the door?   Yes, as long as we don't sell out. However, tickets will be more expensive, so we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. Do I need to bring a ticket? Tickets will be scanned on your phone. However, if you don't have a smartphone, please print and bring a paper ticket. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ilana Federman at ilana@fotfp.org or 312-356-9990.