Craft Beer Adventure Festival on tap June 25

SPRING GROVE — Craft beer enthusiasts may want to buy their tickets early for the first-ever Craft Beer Adventure Festival from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Richardson Adventure Farm, 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove.

Dozens of craft beers from northeastern Illinois breweries will be on hand, plus award-winning Prairie State wines and even a locally hand-crafted spirit or two.

Add in some delectable food truck fare, live music, giant Jenga games, pedal kart tracks, cornhole games, a giant jumping pillow, a 50-foot climbing tower and a 150-foot slide — and you’ve got an adults-only day at the farm that should be one to remember.

Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets range from $15 for designated drivers to $65 for VIPs. The latter will receive a $10 voucher toward an event T-shirt, a sampling mug and preferred parking, as well as early, 2 p.m. admission.

Those purchasing the $45 general admission ticket, of which only 2,000 will be sold, also will receive a sampling mug. All will enjoy music by the Steve Gritman Band from 3 to 6 p.m. And all but the designated drivers may sample from a list of more than 40 craft brews from at least 10 local and one national brewery. Or try some wine from Genoa-based Prairie State Winery, or a spirited citrus seltzer from The Finnish Long Drink.

Half of the profits will go to the Richmond-Spring Grove Area Rotary Club, said George and Wendy Richardson, who operate the farm along with George’s brother, Robert, Robert’s wife, Carol, George’s son, Ryan, and Ryan’s wife, Kristen.

“Numerous people have asked in the past about an adults-only day at the farm,” said George Richardson, who also is president-elect of the Richmond-Spring Grove Rotary. “This seemed like a great way to have some fun, highlight the amazing offerings of our local breweries and raise money for the club.”

A successful event will mean more money to put toward academic and vocational scholarships, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Home of the Sparrow, Operation Warm, area food pantries, ShelterBox International and other nonprofits and causes the club supports, said Wendy Richardson, also a Rotarian.

Fellow Rotarian Tim Molitor, a member of the event committee, said he hopes the adventure fest is a hit.

“It should be a great time — a nice, casual afternoon listening to some live music, enjoying some craft beers and hopefully enjoying some beautiful June weather,” Molitor said.

Richardson Adventure Farm features a gift shop, which will be open, indoor restrooms and free parking. Brewery representatives will occupy spots throughout two hard-shelled pavilions and a 40-by-60-foot tent for the rain-or-shine event.

Breweries confirmed as of early June to be offering samplings at the event include: 9th Hour Brewing of Lake Villa; Black Lung Brewing Co. of Round Lake Beach; Crystal Lake Brewing; Harbor Brewing Co., Winthrop Harbor; Ravinia Brewing Co., Highland Park; Sew Hop’d Brewery, Huntley; Tighthead Brewing Co., Mundelein; Kishwaukee Brewing Co., Woodstock; Spirit Water Brewery, Cary; Sam Adams; and the Finnish Long Drink. More are likely to be added, the Richardsons said.

Tickets and up-to-date details are available at rsgarotaryevents.com.