You don’t need a good reason to drink beer. All you need is beer. But friend, let me ask you something: Have you ever raised a glass of the greatest beer there is – namely, one that was brewed right here in Minnesota – in an act of neighborly love? It transforms a hedonistic pastime into a philanthropic deed. Beer, plus benevolence. That’s Prairie Brewfest 2024!
Picture this. You’re in Purgatory Creek Park on a serene late-summer afternoon (specifically September 7th between 3 and 6pm). You’re surrounded by the greatest kind of company there is: Saturday-cheerful Eden Prairians. The angelic aromas of woodfired pizza and various fried delicacies lovingly embrace your olfactory senses. The music of Wondercure, a local rock band headed by Dave Lindahl – the same city of Eden Prairie economic development manager who founded Prairie Brewfest alongside Mark Weber in 2014 – romances your ears in ways that only rock can. Only laughter, the rhythmic thunks of cornhole bags, and the expert emceeing of Mayor Ron Case and Senator Steve Cwodzinski punctuate those sweet, sweet jams.
There is also beer. Bent Paddle of Duluth, Castle Danger of Two Harbors, and Utepils of Bryn Mawr will all showcase their best quaffs at Brewfest. So too will Eden Prairie’s very own Fat Pants, as well as Flying Dutchman Spirits. (The latter doesn’t brew beer, although cocktails have been known to stimulate merrymaking in much the same way that beer does). Wine, which is also good, will be poured at Prairie Brewfest thanks to Parley Lake Winery of Waconia and Carlos Creek Winery of Alexandria. There will even be nonalcoholic beverages. Wow!
Prairie Brewfest is presented by the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, which has made our fair city a better place to call home since its establishment by community members and city leaders in 1981. During its lifetime, the foundation has provided over $2 million in grants to more than 100 different nonprofits and organizations serving people who live or work in Eden Prairie.
“When you join your family, friends and neighbors at Prairie Brewfest, you’re making a direct positive impact on our community,” said Greg Leeper, executive director of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. Our donors and volunteers have enabled us to support PROP, bring the Every Meal Food Program to Eden Prairie Schools, and partner with the Sojourner Project to provide shelter and legal advocacy to the west metro’s most vulnerable women. Their generosity has also funded the Eden Prairie Community Band, made Eden Prairie more accessible to people with disabilities, and supported the construction of Miracle League Field and Purgatory Creek Park’s Veterans Memorial.”
Help guide the Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s efforts to where they are most needed! When you attend Prairie Brewfest, you’ll meet face-to-face with local organizations and nonprofits serving Eden Prairie, and vote on which projects will receive the most grant funding. Winners will be announced at the end of the fête!
SPONSOR PRAIRIE BREWFEST 2024
Reach out to Greg at (952) 949-8499 or gregleeper@epcommunityfoundation.org if you would like to announce your company’s support for the Eden Prairie Community Foundation! epcommunityfoundation.org