It's been a couple of years since I've been to the Great Lakes Burning River Fest so I was really looking forward to attending this year. Mr. EDC has never been and I knew he would love it too.


First of all, the weather was perfect. Seriously: warm during the day, cool at night with no humidity and a slight breeze. Add that to the gorgeous lakefront setting and we knew the night was going to be special.

We headed straight for the ID check and beer token booth so we could start off the night with a cold one. We both opted to start the night with the new Steady Rollin IPA. They also had Burning River IPA of course and Oktoberfest on tap.
We walked around the Coast Guard Station admiring the views, watching boaters and scoping out the food offerings. Soooo many great choices! Brunty Farms lamb burgers, Sauced wood fired pizza, coconut shrimp, lobster rolls, Mitchell's ice cream and more. Definitely not your average fair food. 

The Stan from Sauced

Jeff Jarrett from Cafe 55 and Sterle's

There was a nice mix of music - everything from rock, to indie and accoustical.
I was sad that we we missed Hey Mavis because they were performing the next night but Yosemight had everyone dancing and Brian Johnson was fabulous.
They also had Cleveland Water drinking water stations, recycling every where, plentiful porta-potties, eco themed booths and super helpful volunteers. 
It's one of my favorite festivals not only because of all this awesomeness, but also because it benefits the Burning River Foundation. This year, they decided to focus on revitalizing the Coast Guard Station. They are hoping that by 2019 (the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River catching on fire) the station will be restored and ready to show how we can all make a difference in the environment and in our city. In 2017 a new bridge will be built so it will be even easier to get there. 
I already can't wait for next year! If you didn't go, be sure to put in on your calendar for 2016. And when you do go, here's some tips:

• Get pre-sale tickets - you not only save money but you get perks like free yoga
• Ride your bike! You save money on your ticket price and there's free valet
• Bring a folding chair if you want to sit - seating was at a premium
• Pace yourself - Great Lakes beer is strong so don't go crazy
• Divide and conquer - split food with a friend so you can taste everything
• Watch the chef demos - you get free samples of food plus a beer tasting
• Wear comfy shoes - definitely no high heels - there's lots of walking even if you hop on the shuttle bus and most is on uneven surfaces and grass

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