St. Pete Oktoberfest Details Released

The third annual St. Pete Oktoberfest press release is out… and here is your info…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Shari Hazlett
Producer and Event Director
(813)787-1192
info@stpeteoktoberfest.com

Craft Beer: A Unique Path To Local Economic Development

St. Petersburg, FL (October 8, 2012)– On Friday, October 19, and Saturday, October 20, the Grand Central District will be hosting the 3rd Annual St. Pete Oktoberfest, the largest craft beer and music festival in St. Petersburg. This 2-day event highlights St. Pete’s funky, offbeat Grand Central District while celebrating local beer culture and Florida’s growing microbrew industry.

The Homebrewer’s Challenge begins on Friday, October 19, from 7pm-10pm at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Pete’s historic seaboard train station. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy unlimited beer samples from Tampa Bay area homebrew clubs, delicious appetizers from local restaurants, and live music from The John Kelley Band. While event guests have the opportunity to vote for the “people’s choice” beer, BJCP-certified judges will be carefully determining the “best of” in each of 4 categories: Brown ales, Pumpkin/Spice Beer, Stouts, German Hefeweizen, and Oktoberfest-style.

The St. Pete Oktoberfest street festival begins on Saturday, October 20, from 5pm-10pm. This craft beer festival will feature dozens of beers for sampling, two beer trucks with craft beer for purchase, and live music from some of our best local and regional performers. Saturday’s headliner, Damon Fowler, is a local blues-rock musician who just celebrated his first major-label release. Also taking the stage on October 20 are Bobby Lee Rodgers, a founding member of The Codetalkers, and local favorites, Serotonic.

Jim Longstreth, past President of the Grand Central District Association and one of the founders of St. Pete Oktoberfest, is now the Chair of Promotions for the District.

“I’m thrilled to see this event grow so much in just 3 years. We’ve worked hard to showcase Florida brewers and local musicians with a national following. For the 3rd Annual St. Pete Oktoberfest, we are expecting thousands of people in the Grand Central District for this event,” Longstreth said.

Shari Hazlett, 3rd Annual St. Pete Oktoberfest Producer and Event Director, is looking forward to the event and the opportunities it will give the organization to grow.

“St. Pete Oktoberfest brings thousands of people to the Grand Central District who are looking for a fun evening filled with local and national craft beer, live music, and eclectic food. The success of this event will help the small businesses, retail shops, and restaurants in the Grand Central District continue to thrive,” said Hazlett.

About The Grand Central District Association: The Grand Central District, host of the 3rd Annual St. Pete Oktoberfest, is a non-profit organization and designated Main Street Community dedicated to promoting economic development in a mixed-use community and entertainment district. St. Pete Oktoberfest is this organization’s largest event of the year; net proceeds from this event will be used to recruit new businesses, further develop marketing and promotions programs for District members, and host special events and workshops in the Grand Central District.

About St. Pete Oktoberfest: The 3rd Annual St. Pete Oktoberfest is a craft beer and music celebration in St. Petersburg, Florida. Major sponsors of this event include JJ Taylor Distributors of Florida, Tenth and Blake, Florida Beer Company, Tyrone Mazda, Batch-19 Pre-Prohibition Lager, Creative Loafing, Edelweiss Airlines, ClearChannel Outdoor, Courtyard Marriot in Downtown St. Pete, and Shiftboard, among others.

General Admission tickets to St. Pete Oktoberfest are $25 advance, $35 at the gate, $45 for the Homebrewer’s Challenge, $55 for 2-Day passes (limited quantities), and $100 for the Oktoberfest Experience (limited quantities). Additional information about the event and to purchase tickets, please visit the event online at www.StPeteOktoberfest.com. Tickets are available to the general public and can be purchased on the event website at www.StPeteOktoberfest.com/tickets.

~ by Sean Nordquist on October 9, 2012.