Many beer lovers may be disappointed to hear the Oregon Brewers Festival team has canceled Oregon Brew Fest, which was expected to happen in Portland, July 2023. One of the most popular beer festivals on the West Coast is an annual event, taking place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland every summer.
“We’re disappointed to share this news, but we know that it’s the right thing to do,” OBF said in their statement Friday. “After three decades of producing OBF, we’ve developed a solid understanding of what it takes to give our attendees a great festival. And it’s clear when those factors aren’t coming together for a successful event.”
Due to dropping attendance numbers, rising costs, and "extreme weather" the event has been shelved this year. They are not alone, as many breweries and suppliers are still struggling to recover from businesses being forced to shut down by government in 2020.
At this time, Oregon Brew Fest has no estimated return date.
“As we go forward, we’ll be considering creative ways to support our local breweries and cideries through smaller festivals and partnerships,” OBF said. “And we encourage you to do the same, by visiting your favorite watering hole, ordering takeout or delivery, leaving reviews for your favorites, buying gift cards, and following them on social media for the latest news on how to help. Let’s make sure there are plenty of thriving breweries ready to join us at OBF when we return.”
Oregon Brewers Festival was founded in 1988, which makes it one of the longest-running in the country. Head over to their website here to read more.
