The 2016 Arts and Craft Beer Fest Offers Unique Arts, Music and Craft Beer Events in Westchester

 New Festival Engages Art Enthusiasts and Craft Beer Lovers While Supporting New York State Craft Breweries

Westchester, N.Y. (July 27, 2016) – Still creating buzz in Westchester County, the 2016 Arts & Craft Beer Fest continues to offer local residents and visitors a calendar of unique events that provide just the right mix of excitement for arts enthusiasts and craft beer lovers.  Organized by ArtsWestchester in partnership with Half Time, Taste NY and Westchester County Tourism, the festival provides visual art, music and New York State craft beers at select events, including the Harbor Island International Beer Festival on September 24.

“It’s not your typical beer fest,” said Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester. “Combining arts and craft beer offerings creates a unique synergy for people looking for fun things to do this summer and fall. This innovative business partnership provides a great way to bridge our respective followings and diversify and grow our audiences. We are thrilled to continue this series through November and hope to expand the initiative throughout the Hudson Valley region in years to come.”

The partnership between the cultural industry and the craft beer industry kicked off in May at ArtsWestchester’s annual spring event, ArtsBash, and continues through November. At each arts and craft beer event, New York State craft breweries are paired with select events at Westchester’s renowned cultural institutions to offer arts and beer enthusiasts unique entertainment experiences. The initiative bridges these two creative industries in order to boost the local economy and build tourism.

The ArtsWestchester events are supported by a $50,000 Craft Beverage Marketing and Promotion grant. The grant supports the promotion of eight county art events related to craft beer. The grant program launched in 2014 as a result of the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s second Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit and was created to increase the profile, awareness and sales of hard cider. Funding is provided by Empire State Development in coordination with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

“We are continuously looking for ways to support New York State’s booming craft beverage industry, and by bringing together the creativity and innovation found in both the arts and craft beverage sectors, we are able to entice even more visitors to experience everything the Hudson Valley region has to offer,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “I encourage both locals and visitors to support our local businesses and attend one of the events hosted by ArtsWestchester this year.”

Among the lineup of unique events, the Harbor Island International Beer Festival will take place at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck on Saturday, September 24.  During the event, guests will be able to experience an interactive paint event produced by ArtsWestchester while enjoying nearly 200 domestic and international renowned breweries from around the world, creative food servers and top chefs from Westchester County and New York City. The festival will also provide great music and wonderful views of the harbor and the magnificent Long Island Sound.  For more information, visit harborislandbeerfestival.com

“The collaboration between the arts and craft beer industries has helped ArtsWestchester attract young professionals to Westchester arts events,” Langsam added. “Both the brewmasters and artists are brought together, adding creative and entertainment value to the consumers’ experience.”

Half Time has been supplying craft beer and cider enthusiasts with an elaborate selection of beer and cider for more than a decade and employs some of the most knowledgeable beer and cider experts in the state. Alan Daniels, the owner of the two Half Time stores in New York, featuring 5,000 beers and hundreds of ciders, believes that showcasing the art of the brew master at ArtsWestchester’s event is a perfect fit.

“In addition to partnering on the events, Half Time is extremely excited to collaborate on a special commemorative growler with ArtsWestcester,” said Jason Daniels, chief operating officer for Half Time. “With the goals of promoting the relationship of art and craft beer, as well as a new partnership to develop an arts presence at Harbor Island International Beer Festival, growlers are an integral part of our business, and an important facet of providing the freshest beers to our consumers. We found it imperative to spice up our artwork on our growlers, and who better than ArtsWestchester to design our newest drinking vessels!”

For more information, visit artswestchester.org/the-arts-craft-beer-fest.

 

Calendar of Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, August 3, 6:30pm
Katonah Museum of Art
Caramoor@KMA, Ethos Percussion Group

Ethos Percussion Group is America’s premier percussion quartet presenting an energetic potpourri of musical genres from around the globe. Highly regarded for their Western chamber music expertise, individual members are also virtuosos on exotic instruments from Indonesia, West Africa, India and the Middle East. Audiences of all ages are thrilled as they perform landmark works by John Cage, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. Then they can hardly sit still in their seats as they are treated to highly intoxicating rhythms from Guinea and Calcutta. Craft beers from New York State brewers will add to the festivities.

134 Jay Street – Route 22, Katonah, NY
Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner – gates open at 5:30 p.m., concert starts at 6:30.
Tickets: $15 members, $20 non-members

 

Saturday, October 1, 2pm
ArtsWestchester
Opening Reception: Remedy

Experience the opening of ArtsWestchester’s Fall Exhibition: Remedy. As Westchester is at the center of the ever burgeoning health industry, local artists explore the complex, multifaceted relationship between the human body and the health care sector.

31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY
www.artswestchester.org
Admission: Free

 

Saturday, October 29, 8pm
Copland House at Merestead
Sounds of Havana

Fourteen-time Grammy Award-winning composer-clarinetist Paquito d’Rivera joins the Music from Copland House ensemble to launch Copland House’s 8th season of concerts at Merestead with a program featuring his works and that of one his great musical heroes, Johannes Brahms. Keep the beat going at a post-concert reception with hors d’oeuvres and New York State craft beers.

455 Byram Lake Road, Mt. Kisco, NY
Tickets: $50

 

Saturday, November 5, 7:30pm
Pelham Art Center
Studio Café

Pelham Art Center’s 19th annual Studio Café features area restaurants, live music, open studios and galleries, affordable art and luxury auction items. Enjoy loads of fun, lots of food and New York State craft beers in the tented courtyard at the hottest party in Pelham.

155 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY
Tickets: $95