Food & Fun

2026 Beer Fest Theme:
Back to Where It All Began—Celebrating 15 Years!

This year, we're taking it back to the beginning as we celebrate 15 years of Beer Fest fun! Join us for a nostalgic party filled with great brews, good friends, and lively entertainment—including a festive polka band that will have you dancing and singing along.

Sample craft beers from near and far, enjoy delicious food from local vendors, compete in crowd-favorite games, and soak up the festive atmosphere that has made Beer Fest a beloved tradition for 15 years. Whether you're a longtime attendee or joining us for the first time, this anniversary celebration is the perfect chance to raise a glass, make memories, and toast to the next 15 years.

Come thirsty, bring your friends, and let's celebrate Beer Fest the way it all started!

Food

Food will be available onsite from several food vendors. We’ll also have Beer Fest favorites peanuts and pretzels available for purchase.

Music

Entertainment for the 2026 Beer Fest will be provided by Appalachian Freunde Polka Band & Song Band!

Appalachian Freunde Polka Band

The Appalachian Freunde Polka Band (AF Polka Band) is an Oktoberfest band formed in 2023 that celebrates German music heritage. Diane, Mike Fields, and Adam Bennett started the band in 2023, and together, they have decades of polka music and Oktoberfest experience.

AF Polka Band shows present polka music with traditional favorites alongside Oktoberfest party tunes and American rock pieces, guaranteed to satisfy the polka fans and let others build a newfound love for the genre.

Whether playing for large festivals or small events, Appalachian Freunde Polka Band members strive to entertain and connect with audiences of all ages.

Song Band

What started as an impromptu jam session on a warm summer evening has grown into one of the Upstate's favorite party bands. Formed by a group of longtime friends and accomplished musicians, Song Band brings an energetic mix of talent, passion, and fun to every performance.

Blending influences from jazz, pop, blues, soul, rock, and gospel, Song Band delivers a crowd-pleasing sound that keeps audiences engaged from the first note to the last. Their dynamic stage presence, exceptional musicianship, and infectious energy make them the perfect addition to our 15th Anniversary Beer Fest celebration.

Grab a cold beer, gather your friends, and get ready to sing along, dance, and celebrate as Song Band helps us keep the party going all day long!

Games & Fun

It wouldn’t be Beer Fest without games to test your skills and have some fun.

  • Returning this year is “Hoppy Hammer,” our version of the traditional German game of skill that puts contestants head to head as they drive single nails into a log with the fewest strikes. This game has proven to be a real hit with friends and couples as they compete for bragging rights and awesome beer-themed prizes.

  • This American classic bean bag toss game challenges players to throw cornhole bags across a rectangular court onto a facing platform. Bags that land in the hole are worth 3 points. Bags that land on the platform, without going in the hole or touching the ground are worth 2 points. Bags landing outside of the platform are worth 0 points. The first player/team to reach 21 points or more wins.

  • This oversized version of the popular table top game involves dozens of wooden blocks stacked in levels of three in a tower. Players take turns pulling one block from any level (except the one below an incomplete top level) and placing it on the topmost level. The game ends when the tower falls on a player’s turn. The opposite player during a tower fall is the winner.

  • Competitors are required to hoist a filled stein with a straight arm, for as long as possible. If you sip, spill, or bend your arm, you’re out!

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  • Step into our popular photobooth for free photos with High Noon props to match this year’s theme. Take home your photo strip or find them after the festival on our Facebook page—be sure to share ’em!

  • Didn’t dress the part for Tryon Beer Fest? No worries! Just stick your face in the cut-outs and you’ll be ready to take a photo in full Oktoberfest garb!