Skip to main content

Try 48 craft beers at Greencastle festival Saturday


Between a charity footrace and a craft beer sampling event, Greencastle will be the place to be April 18.

That's what the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce and other event planners are counting on, said chamber director Joel Fridgen.

The day gets cranked up at 8:30 a.m. with the third Annual Flannery's Pub Run Half-Marathon, presented by The Greencastle Flyers, and sponsored by Sunnyway Foods. Proceeds benefit G-A MAAX of Greencastle and Fix JB Sports of Mercersburg.

The third annual 13.1-mile race starts at Flannery's Tavern in Mercersburg, winding through Franklin County's incredible back country to the finish line at John Allison Public House in Greencastle. The run will be followed by the second annual craft beer festival at the public house. The craft beer festival was created to help fund the athletic programs for Greencastle-Antrim and James Buchanan school districts.

"Basically, the events are both in support of students of each community," Fridgen said. "The beer craft festival is a separate event, but in a way what we're trying to do is making it a day in Greencastle. Between the run and the beer festival, it becomes a Greencastle day, a chance to get out and enjoy. If we have good weather, what a day it will be."

The events also give people an opportunity to hang around in town and visit some of the merchants, he added.

"The craft beer festival will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the John Allison parking lot," Fridgen said. "We have plans for 48 craft beers that will be available from 24 breweries. Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Designated drivers are free as long as they identify themselves."

Fridgen said state regulations require that everybody who enters has to be 21 or older and present identification to prove it.

"We'll check ID even if you're 70," he said.

Food is not included in the admission but will be available at the event. There will also be small games of chance.

Admission gets ticket-holders a five-ounce commemorative mug, which will be used to sample the different craft beers.

Fridgen said the planners hope for 1200 or so people at this year's event, up from about 800 for the inaugural festival.

"This year plan for a bigger crowd, at least we are hoping for that if the weather cooperates. The parking lot can handle 1800."

For more information on the two events, check out: flanneryspubrun.com and johnallisonpublichouse.com/?event=greencastle-craft-beer-festival

Also check out

Royal Square Beer Crawl includes craft brews and scavenger hunt

Fans weigh in: Best places to eat and drink before an Orioles game in Baltimore

Brewmaster Tasting Tour: Try five new locations on the Susquehanna Ale Trail