Thousands of fun-loving revelers are expected to attend the inaugural YachtoberFest on the Historic Thea Foss Waterway esplanade Saturday, Oct. 4 directly behind The Museum of Glass.
This inaugural fundraiser is presented by the Tacoma Waterfront Association and designed to mingle the northwest’s enthusiasm for boating and craft beer. Open to the public (21+), the event will feature multiple craft brewers, wineries, German food and live entertainment.
Proceeds from YachtoberFest will benefit the Tacoma Waterfront Association, the Tacoma Youth Marine Foundation, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay. All three non-profit organizations work to promote and improve Tacoma’s waterfront.
“We are very excited to bring such a unique event to Tacoma,” said Gregg Reynolds, TWA president. “YachtoberFest will merge two of our local community’s passions – boating and craft beer – and bring people down to the Historic Foss Waterway to enjoy a great day at one of Tacoma’s best assets, its waterfront.”
The formal portion of YachtoberFest will kick off at 11:45 a.m. with VIP remarks and a traditional "tapping of the keg” ceremony. Beer will begin flowing at high noon. Food, drinks and entertainment will be available until 6 p.m.
1 p.m.: Dave Calhoun, a singer-songwriter playing what is known as Tropical Rock music in the style of Jimmy Buffett and is the only Jimmy Buffett tribute show in Washington State.
2:45 p.m.: Rock and Roll Magic has been getting people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor for over 25 years in the Puget Sound area. With a musical vocabulary of over 1,000 hit dance songs from the 1950s through the 1980s.
4:15 p.m.: SweetKiss Momma, a rootsy, southern-soul tinged rock-n-roll band that combines classic blues riffs, gospel harmonies and funk breakdowns to unashamedly display their era of influences.
Yachtoberfest is working with some great Tacoma-based restaurants that will be cooking up wonderful German-inspired offerings: The Social Bar and Grill, Paesan Kitchen and Bar, Fleischkuechie Food Truck (known for their traditional deep-fried beef turnovers) and Cascade Baking Company.
The event will feature many craft brewing companies, including Seven Seas, Boundary Bay, Georgetown, Snoqualmie Falls, Mac & Jack’s, Odd Otter, Northwest, Full Sail, Sierra Nevada, Iron Horse, American, Harmon, Deschutes and Wingman brewing companies, along with wineries Thorny Rose and Hogue.
YachtoberFest is a 21 or older event and valid ID must be provided upon entry. Entrance tickets are $12 per person if purchased in advance by Friday, Oct. 3 and $20 at the door. Food and drinks will be pay-as-you-go. Event will be held rain or shine. Tents will be erected if necessary. No non-service animals please. Costumes and traditional dress are highly encouraged.
Parking will be available at various free and paid places along the waterfront. Moorage for boats will be available at Delin Docks, Dock Street Marina, Foss Harbor Marina and the Foss Waterway Seaport.
Stroll the esplanade and take in the beautiful Historic Foss Waterway before the event. Will Call ticket pickup opens at 10:30 a.m. and gates at 11:30 a.m.
For more information, visit http://www.yachtoberfest.com.
Chip Hanauer and mayor Strickland….