A once largely celebrated event in Poplar Bluff, Beerfest, is returning this year after a COVID-inspired hiatus.
The Beerfest & Shrimp Boil celebration is from 4 -7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Black River Coliseum. The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting this year’s event.
“The local brewery club, Bootheel United Zymurgists, hosted Beerfest for several years in the past, and they did a great job with it,” said Chamber President Steve Halter. “David Peluso was kind of the guy who spearheaded the event.
“David opened his own brewery, King David’s winery, and was just too busy to continue with it, but we wanted to keep that tradition going. So we approached the beer club and David and asked if we could take it over,” said Halter. “We’ve ordered hundreds and hundreds of pounds of shrimp from the Gulf coast and they’re delivering it the night before the event.
“At the shrimp boil, we’ll have the typical things, sausage, corn and potatoes, then obviously fresh Gulf shrimp and we will have water and Pepsi products for those who are just there for the shrimp boil.”
Halter explained tickets are available separately for Beerfest and the shrimp boil, can be purchased as a combined ticket or as a VIP ticket, which includes both, plus access to an event an hour early and a souvenir cup.
“We’re really excited. We’ve had a lot of people already sign up, so if you want a ticket, you need to jump on Eventbrite and get one pretty quickly before we sell out,” said Halter.
This year, Halter said, they have also decided to add live music to the event. Freedom & Misty, an acoustic duo will be performing.
“We are excited, We think it’s going to be great, live music, some games for people to play, some washers and some cornhole, probably somewhere around 40 to 50 different beers for people to sample, anything from specialty craft beer to imported beers,” he said.
The event will also introduce several home brewers who will be competing for a medal. Votes will be cast using the ticket stubs of the event goers, according to Halter.
“We’re working with will Fischer Distributing, Kohlfeld Distributing, King David’s Winery, Meadery & Brewery and the Wine Rack. Pepsi is taking care of us on the drinks,” he said. “It’s just gonna be a fun event and we’re excited for the opportunity to get more people into our community.
“When people come in for an event like that, they’re most likely going to have to have a place to stay, and that’s going to hopefully keep them in town to do some shopping and fill our hotel rooms.”
For more event information visit www.facebook.com/poplarbluffchamber or purchase tickets at www.eventbrite.com.