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Festival season returns: 10th annual Brewgaloo kicks off this weekend in downtown Raleigh

The festival will feature 70 craft breweries, 45 food trucks and multiple vendors - smaller numbers than in previous years. This allows people to spread out more and keep their distance.

Posted Updated

By
Adam Owens
, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — With so many downtown festivals canceled last year, last September just didn't feel the same. This year, however, the streets are starting to come to life again as some popular festivals make a comeback.

Brewgaloo, which features 70 breweries from around the state, kicks off Friday night and runs through the weekend.

For the sake of safety, a few changes have been implemented.

The first major change: Brewgaloo will be an in-person gathering once again. Last year, the pandemic forced organizers to hold a drive-thru event. As a safety precaution, however, the gathering will be a little smaller this year.

In years before COVID, as many as 50,000 people packed downtown Raleigh for Brewgaloo. This year, they anticipate their numbers will be halved.

The festival will feature 70 craft breweries, 45 food trucks and multiple vendors – smaller numbers than in previous years. This allows people to spread out more and keep their distance.

Hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations will be readily available, spread throughout the event.

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Masks are not required currently for outdoor gatherings in Raleigh.

Anyone who is feeling unwell and cannot attend can contact Brewgaloo for a full refund on their tickets.

"We want people to come back, but we want to do it safely," said Jennifer Martin of Shop Local Raleigh, the group hosting the event. "We also want people to have fun."

Martin said she feels people have really missed out on community and connections during the pandemic.

"We are designed to interact with each other and have relationships and community," she said.

Martin says she believes Brewgaloo will help people find a way to connect, while still focusing on safety.

This year is the 10th anniversary of Brewgaloo. The event kicks off tonight with a smaller block party sampler event from 6 to 10 p.m. The larger event is Saturday. Tickets are available online and at the gate.

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