BrewLoops is back with 17 breweries, road hockey, live music for Downtown Block Party

Fans of Kamloops’ flagship craft beer festival will get an early dose of hops this year.

BrewLoops has announced its Downtown Block Party is set for Saturday, May 26, featuring 17 breweries, 100 different beers, food trucks and live music. New this year is a collaboration with the Royal Cup, a road hockey tournament usually held on the North Shore.

Business in the front, a party out back. [I thought only mullets were that cool] #explorekamloops #yka360

A post shared by Tourism Kamloops (@tourismkamloops) on Jul 30, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

The tournament has raised thousands of dollars for local charities and, this year, organizers are hoping to raise $10,000 for Kidsport to help local kids get access to the sports they love.

Beer vendors will be set up downtown during the road hockey tournament from noon to 5 p.m. and the block party will kick off after that with live music on a main stage next to the Plaza into the evening.

Featured breweries will include:

• Red Collar - Kamloops
• Noble Pig - Kamloops
• Iron Road - Kamloops
• Bright Eye Brewing - Kamloops
• Howe Sound - Squamish
• Strange Fellows - East Vancouver
• Driftwood - Victoria
• Cannery - Penticton
• Lighthouse - Victoria
• Three Ranges - Valemount
• Mt Begbie - Revelstoke
• Phillips - Victoria
• Moon Under Water - Victoria
• Kettle River - Kelowna
• Steamworks - Vancouver
• Riot Brewing - Chemainus
• Two Wolves Brewing - Vancouver

The first-ever Welcome Winter Block Party was a great success! All ages came out to enjoy visiting by the fire, food & drink, local shopping & fun along the way. Thanks so much to everyone who helped make this awesome event happen! #downtownkamloops #yka360 #brewloops @brewloopsfest

A post shared by Downtown Kamloops (@downtownkamloops) on Dec 13, 2017 at 11:35am PST

In 2017, organizers grew the BrewLoops events lineup beyond the annual September festival. They introduced the Back Alley Block Party during the downtown Merchants Market in July, but this year it will be a standalone event. The inaugural Welcome Winter Block Party was also a hit in December.

“The Society has been hard at work over the winter organizing this year’s event line up,” said Mitch Forgie, BrewLoops director and owner of Red Beard Café.

“We’ve been working on some amazing partnerships within the community, partnerships that have been in the works for a few years now, and we can hardly wait to share them with the public.”

Tickets for the Downtown Block Party are $20 and available online through the Kamloops Live box office. Beer tickets, merchandise and food will be available for cash on site.

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