The first weekend of October marks the fifth annual Hops & Harvest Festival in Empire, Michigan. The village, which sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan, is surrounded by a number of hops farms, many of which source their hops to breweries throughout the state. Each fall, the Empire Chamber of Commerce hosts the festival to celebrate the harvest season with local food, beer and music on Front Street.
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 5, with a classic fish fry hosted by Art’s Tavern under the tent. Admission is $5. Check out the full menu here (ahem, pretzel bites!).
The fun continues on Saturday at noon and lasts until 10 p.m. Food and beer vendors will be set up throughout the day with items available for purchase. Local bands will provide live music throughout the event, capped off by The Benzie Playboys at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening.
Tickets to the Saturday event are $20 for adults, which includes a commemorative Hops & Harvest Festival glass, along with a drink ticket. Additional drink tickets and food will be available for purchase. Kids under 16 are free. Get your tickets here.
Volunteer opportunities are available as well. Volunteers receive free admission to the festival along with a commemorative glass, T-shirt and drink tickets. Sign up here.
Drink Vendors
Right Brain Brewery
Lake Ann Brewing Company
The Workshop Brewing Company
The Filling Station Microbrewery
Oddside Ales
St. Ambrose Cellars
Short’s Brewing Company
Acoustic
Brewery Becker
Black Star Farms
Stormcloud Brewing Company
New Holland Brewing
North Channel Brewing
Northwoods Soda & Syrup Co.
Food Vendors
Little Traverse Inn
NJ’s Grocery
Deering’s Market
Mama Lu’s
Scalawags Fish & Chips
MI Grill (Baytown Kitchen)
Pleva’s of Cedar
Art’s Tavern
Nepalese Have Another
Pleva’s Meats
Rocco’s
Rockwich
Shipwreck Cafe
Mel Fell
Music Lineup
The Benzie Playboys
Jackpine
5th Gear
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