Joe Waizmann, founder and chief organizer of AleFest, said in an email that he decided not to hold the event at Carillon Park “due to an exorbitant change in (Carillon’s) rental and fee structure.”
But Brady Kress — president and CEO of Dayton History, which includes Carillon Park — said park officials did not raise the rent for the event. Dayton History officials did add a requirement that Waizmann and AleFest purchase liquor liability insurance for the event, and to purchase all of the alcohol served at AleFest through Carillon Park’s liquor license for Carillon Park.
Kress said the state’s liquor regulations require the purchases to be made through its license unless Dayton History were to set aside its license for the day, which would mean it could not serve beer at its new historic brewery that is scheduled to open the day before AleFest.
“Carillon is a non-profit museum,” Kress said. “We’re trying to make it as a non-profit in this town, too.”
This year’s AleFest will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Wegerzyn, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. The event will showcase more than 400 beers and ciders from more than 180 craft breweries around the world, with a special focus on Dayton-area breweries, festival organizers said. Nine local breweries will be participating.
Waizmann said Wegerzyn Gardens “offers a bucolic setting for sampling craft beers on a summer afternoon. Parking is plentiful, and the space provides ample room for growth.”
A portion of AleFest’s proceeds benefits a handful of local non-profit agencies.
There will again be a Dayton Beer Week preceding AleFest Dayton, including a Dayton Beer Pride Parade on Aug. 17.
AleFest tickets can be purchased online at www.AleFest.com or at several beer and wine stores and taverns in the Dayton area. For more information, go to the AleFest Dayton Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/AleFests.
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