Clare Brewfest

Today I went to the Clare Brewfest, a one-day event featuring samples of craft beers from all over Michigan. I don't care for beer myself, but this year I couldn't resist because they added samples from five Michigan WINERIES!!!  Three I've actually visited in the past, but who cares? I was there to "sample" the festival's set-up.

The Brewfest was held in a downtown parking area and empty field across the street from the City Park, the police department and the fire department. There were large canopies over the tasting areas, picnic tables and other round tables for people to congregate around, a performance stage for live

music, bleachers, and a temporary metal fence surrounding the entire area. Here's the band that was playing while I was there during the afternoon: Third Coast Steel Band. They had a fun, summery sound, making me feel like I was waiting for a Jimmy Buffet concert to start!

Entry was gained through a check-in area in one corner of the festival grounds. Most of the ground under the tent was paved, and there were wood chips along the edges. Wood chips and some sort of temporary sidewalk led from the entrance to the tasting tent; the rest of the ground was lumpy, sandy ground with occasional patches of grass and weeds.

I arrived at 3:30 pm, roughly an hour and a half after the festival opened. There were still many open parking spaces within a two-block radius, and several of them were right across the street at the park. A person who could walk a block or more would have no trouble reaching the festival. A person who was attending with an able-bodied companion but could not walk quite that far could still enter the grounds and wait at a picnic table while her companion parked the car.

Anyone using a wheelchair, a motorized mobility chair or scooter would have no trouble navigating the festival. The samples were obtained from long banquet tables, easy to approach and a comfortable level. Anyone who is using a basic aluminum walker or a cane or crutches would need a posse. There isn't anywhere to set your sample drink glass down under the tent so you'll have to dance your way over to a gap between the tables to get outside to a table or the bleachers. Also a strong bladder would be helpful: although the porta-johns are supposedly handicap acessible, really are they EVER?

There were other ways to attend besides arriving by car. A train brought festival goers from Owosso.

There was also a bus painted up like an old trolley that is part of Isabella County Transportation that arrived some time after I did. This trolley is handicap accessible.

Despite the proximity to Clare Castle, a senior housing building, I didn't see many senior citizens attending. I also didn't see anyone else in attendance that had any visible mobility issues. I brought my rolling walker with the built-in seat. All I needed was an attachable table and I'd have been set! Here is how close Clare Castle was to the tent:

That white canopy is the ticket gate--just kitty-corner across the street!

Bottom line:  Next year if you are looking for a little outing for Grandpa and he enjoys a nip of beer and live music, don't be afraid to bring him down to the Clare Brewfest, tentatively scheduled for August 16-ish.