September has arrived, and that means the annual Harvest Brew Fest is coming to Cortez.
This is the 21st year of the Brew Fest, which will take over Parque de Vida from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, with live music, food trucks and, of course, brews.
The fest is hosted by the Montezuma Land Conservancy, which conserves local land by working with landowners to put their property in conservation easements. It’s MLC’s biggest annual event to raise funds for operations, said Bonny Wayman, the event coordinator.
One of the taglines for the festival is “Drink Beer, Save Land.”
This year, 14 breweries, cideries and wineries will participate. They include local hot spots such as WildEdge Brewing Collective, Dolores River Brewery, Fenceline Cider and Sutcliffe Vineyards, among others.
Live music will be provided by Felix y Los Gatos, a New Mexico-based band playing Zydetejano blues – a mix of Latin, blues, tejano and outlaw country music.
“We think that they’re going to be a lot of fun and get people out and dancing,” Wayman said.
This year, the local nonprofit School Community Youth Collaborative will sponsor a “drive safe” campaign, providing free rides home in Montezuma County along with overnight parking vouchers.
More than 100 items will be sold at the “Super Silent Auction,” including outdoor gear, jewelry, backpacks and festival passes.
Tickets, $35 at the gate and $30 in advance online at montezumaland.org, include a collector glass and unlimited beer tasting.
Kids 15 and under can enter for free.
Other brewers and companies represented include Animas Brewing Co., Bottom Shelf Brewery, Chainless Brewing, Colorado Native beers, Mancos Brewing Co., Moab Brewery, Main Street Brewery, Montucky Cold Snacks, Ska Brewing Co. and Steamworks Brewing Co.
