Great American Beer Festival
Since 1982, beer lovers have traveled to Denver, Colorado, to participate in this premier beer festival in the U.S. The Great American Beer Festival is a must-attend event for lager lovers as it offers the largest collection of U.S. beer served at a public event. With over 4,000 diverse beers, festival attendees can enjoy a public tasting event plus a private competition. Craft brewing is one of the fastest-growing segments of the beer, wine, and spirits industry, and the Great American Beer Festival showcases craft beers and more from over 800 of the nation's best breweries.
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
At the Great American Beer Festival, breweries can enter their beers to be judged by the festival's Professional Judge Panel. The professional panel awards entered beers either gold, silver, or bronze medals, which are recognized around the world as symbols of excellence. Event attendees can sample beers from the beer competition as well as other brews. You can also visit the beer and food pavilion at the festival and enjoy the art of beer and food pairings, thanks to expert chefs and brewers.
ON-SITE AMENITIES
There are plenty of onsite amenities available at the Great American Beer Festival, such as an ATM, designated driver tickets with free, non-alcoholic sodas, food trucks and food concessions, complimentary water stations, and festival and brewery merchandise for sale. There is also a "my GABF" free app to enhance your festival experience.
LOCATION
This festival takes place at a convention center that is located in downtown Denver, near the art museum and Metropolitan State University of Denver. Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street, 14th and Stout Streets Denver, CO 80202
RVING AT THE EVENT
While RVing is not permitted at The Colorado Convention Center, where the Great American Beer Festival is held, there are a variety of RV parks nearby to choose from. We recommend commuting to the event via rideshare, public transportation or if you have access to a car. Here are some highly rated Denver area campgrounds close to the convention center. • Dakota Ridge RV Resort is a campground that is open year-round, and it can be found between Summit County's mountain peaks and downtown Denver. There are 141 full-service campsites available, plus there is a heated outdoor pool, daily trash pickup, and a clubhouse that's open during office hours. • Found in the Denver metropolitan area, Flying Saucer RV Park has some campsites with full hookups for RVs. With shaded campsites, this campground offers amenities like laundry facilities, hot showers, and free Wi-Fi. • Spruce Lake RV Resort has everything from a playground to a mini golf course, all nestled along a river. Located just outside of Denver, it's great for large RVs and is pet-friendly. No matter where you stay, here are some RV tips to help you make your trip go smoothly: • Always check with the campground where you plan to stay to see if generators are allowed before bringing one. In many cases, visitors who use generators must adhere to the campground's quiet hours when running them. • Make sure that you leave no trace in your campsite by picking up after yourself. You should also avoid feeding the wildlife and keep a close watch on any campfires you start. • Never drive to and from the festival if you plan on drinking. Instead, find a designated driver or plan on using a rideshare program to get back to your campsite.
WHERE TO STAY
Aside from the campgrounds in Denver, you can stay at a nearby hotel to experience the Great American Beer Festival. • Staybridge Suites Denver Downtown is a hotel that's centrally located to all of the best breweries in Denver, plus it's near the convention center. It's also within walking distance of the Denver Art Museum. • Also near the convention center is the Embassy Suites by Hilton. This hotel has free breakfast, an indoor pool, and pet-friendly rooms.
HOW TO GET THERE
The closest major intersection to the Colorado Convention Center is Colfax Avenue and Speer Boulevard. RTD buses and the light rail are the best way to get to the Great American Beer Festival. Denver International Airport Train: The University of Colorado A Line departs every 37 minutes for downtown Denver. The cost is $4.50-9.00/one way. Denver Light Rail & Buses: A light rail train stops right in front of the Colorado Convention Center. Find your bus or light rail route using RTD trip planner.
PARKING
The Colorado Convention Center has onsite parking in a 1,000-space parking garage, which provides direct access to the Convention Center. Open 24/7, the garage is open to all visitors attending any event or business in downtown Denver, so spaces may be limited. Parking is paid, and rates vary by 8, 12, 18, and 24-hour periods. RVers should be aware that the garage does not permit trailers or oversized vehicles. The Colorado Convention Center parking garage has a maximum vehicle length of 19 ft and a clearance of 8 ft 2 in. Also, the garage does not allow in-and-out parking.
TICKETS & PRICING
General tickets are available to purchase for the festival for $85 per person on Thursday, or $95 per person for Saturday or Sunday. Three-day festival passes are also available for $220.
WRAP UP
If you're a beer lover, visiting the Great American Beer Festival is a no-brainer with over 4,000 beers to sample and deliciously paired food, all in the beautiful setting of Denver. Not much could make it better for beer lovers, especially if you plan on visiting the festival while camping in your RV. For more updates about the Great American Beer Festival, check out the fair's Facebook Page.
Please note, this is not the official source of the event information. While we try to be as comprehensive as possible, some details may have changed since the time this article was written. Please confirm final details with the official event page .
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