Guests of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens have access 365 days a year to 13 beautiful gardens covering more than 300 acres. One night a year, guests can take in the beauty of the gardens with a craft beer in hand.
The sixth annual Botanical Brewfest will be held at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens on Saturday, October 12 from 5-9 p.m. Brewfest features more than 100 craft beers from nearly 40 breweries, live music and dancing, 15 restaurants, games and activities all enjoyed with the beautiful garden in falls colors as a backdrop.
Carlos Corredor, honorary chair for the Botanical Brewfest and a Friends of the Arboretum advisory board member, says the event is a key fundraiser for the Arboretum. The funds from the event support efforts throughout the garden as well as helping to provide engaging programming.
The annual Botanical Brewfest is “one of the area’s premier fall events,” according to Corredor. He says, “The tiki torches that reflect on Margaret’s Pond and the seasonal foliage make for a wonderful backdrop to a special and fun evening.”
Tickets can be purchased online at botanicalbrewfest.org, $60 for general admission and $85 for VIP. Friends of the Arboretum receive a $5 discount on ticket purchases. VIP ticket holders receive early admittance to the event at 4 p.m. New this year, VIP ticket holders will also have access to a special area including an exclusive restaurant and premium craft beer offerings. A s’mores bar will be available just for VIP guests to enjoy. All ticket holders receive admission to the gardens for the entire day of the event to enjoy trails and gardens as well as a souvenir tasting glass to take home.
First-time attendees should take note that the event is held rain or shine, and guests are welcome to leave their cars at the garden overnight without fear of towing if they prefer to use a taxi or lift service to get home afterwards.
A unique aspect of the Botanical Brewfest is the Arboretum’s commitment to ensuring this is a green event.
Corredor says, “At the Arboretum, we continue in our ongoing effort to reduce our carbon footprint wherever possible. Much of our event waste from guests, restaurants and beverage companies is either compostable or recyclable with less than 20 percent of our waste going to landfill. We also have a team of event volunteers who spend countless hours during and after the event ensuring that our waste materials are correctly separated to maximize the environmental benefit.”
Businesses partner with the Arboretum to provide recycling services as well as biodegradable paper products at a discounted rate. Corredor says that green efforts have improved since the first Brewfest event, but the board recognizes the need to continually make progress.
