Empire Hops Festival returns Oct. 3

From staff reports

The second annual Empire Hops Festival will run from noon until 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. The festival takes place on Front St, between Union and La Rue Streets. An entry fee of $15 will be charged which will include complimentary glass & drink tickets. Guests under 16 are free.

Participating Breweries include: Right Brain, Stormcloud Brewing Company Frankfort, Beards of Petoskey, Lake Ann Brewing, St Ambrose Cellars, Northport Brewery, Shorts Brewing Co., the Workshop Brewing Co., Filling Station Microbrewery, Brewery Becker from Brighton and Hop Lot Brewing Co.

Food vendors include Scalawags Fish & Chips, Deerings Market Empire, MI Grill, Fire Dog Pizza, Art’s Tavern and Little Traverse Inn.

Music by Strobelite Honey from 1-4 p.m.; Black Jake & the Carnies from 5-7 p.m. and the Benzie Playboys 8-10 p.m.

Free parking is available two blocks North of Front Street in Johnson Park.