Wichita beer festival, on hiatus since COVID, is making its big comeback at a local park

Beer lovers used to look forward every fall to the big Midwest Beerfest, which in its heyday would fill Century II with local, regional and national breweries passing out samples of their best brews.

That event — which was always put on by the Wichita Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food — hasn’t happened since before the pandemic and still isn’t back this year. But another growing beer festival, which also has been on hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic, is making a 2022 return and will be set up at a new venue.

The Prairieland Beer & Music Festival, which was founded in 2018 by the Kansas Craft Brewers Guild, had its first two installments at Wave, the big music venue at 650 E. Second St.

COVID canceled the festival in 2020 and 2021, but returns on Saturday, Sept. 24, when it will be set up under the tree canopy at Hyde Park, 201 S. Greenwood. The big green space sits just across the street from Central Standard Brewing, whose co-owner Andy Boyd is one of the festival’s organizers.

Boyd, whose co-organizer is Wichita Brewing Company brewer Cody Sherwood, said that his business has long wanted to take advantage of its proximity to the park, and a change approved by the Wichita City Council in November 2019 — an amendment to city code that automatically grants groups exemptions to the state statute and city ordinance prohibiting alcohol in city parks as long as they’ve obtained a council-approved permit — made it much easier.

The move will allow Prairieland organizers to spread their 41 beer, cider, wine and coffee vendors throughout the park and also will help them reduce overhead so they can donate more of the money raised toward their charity of choice: local animal rescue Beauties and Beasts Inc.

Attendees who purchase $45 tickets will get a tasting glass that will allow them to wander around and get unlimited beverage samples. Among the local and regional breweries that will be in attendance: Nortons, Hopping Gnome, Central Standard, Wichita Brewing Co. and Third Place out of Wichita; Ladybird from Winfield; Radius from Emporia; The Jolly Fox from Pittsburg and more.

Central Standard will be setting up a hot dog cart in the park, where they’ll grill dogs over an open fire and allow people to load them up at an “excessive condiment bar,” Boyd said.

The festival, which will last from 1 to 4:30 p.m., will also feature live music from electronic/reggae band Ghost Rock and Kansas City funk band Stranded in the City.

Tickets are available at central-standard-brewing-llc.ticketleap.com/prairelandfest