Despite the flaws mentioned in the other reviews, Burning River Fest is worth attending if you're…read moreinterested in beer (specifically Christmas Ale), music, and environmental organizations. The other reviews made a couple valid criticisms: they don't let you bring in your own water bottles (although you could have sneaked in your own utensils to eat - haha), forcing you to buy one of their own, costing $3 (not sure if they could be refilled and if so, their cost): I just downed my water as I walked in, natch. The beer cups, corn-based and compostable, weren't reused. A GLBRF volunteer told me cups aren't reused because they touch the ends of the beer taps. They did have plenty of recycling and compost bins around the fest. There were very few chairs, I stood without complaint. As for paper tickets, it may have not been the most environmentally friendly but the system allowed people to get their beer quicker instead of having to make change and ring up credit cards at each purchase. However, there was no signage that I had to get a wristband to buy alcohol once inside the fest. The lines didn't detract from my experience. I arrived at 6pm, right when it started, bought my admission ticket in advance and most of my beer tickets and wristband for beer as soon as I arrived, and waited no more than 10 minutes in any line although friends who arrived later had waited a bit longer than that. Although there were a few families there, I also wouldn't plan to bring young'uns here. As Steve mentioned, there was not much for kids to do here. The rain put a damper on the crowd and the overall experience. That being said, it's still worth attending if you're interested in hearing some music (mostly generic bluegrass, folk, and traditional country) and enjoying the views of Lake Erie amid friends and other people.

Went with husband last weekend on our weekend trip to CLE. First off, do NOT ask Google to get you…read moreto the location. We ended up walking through some projects, an industrial area and steel bridge to end up on the other side of freight tracks and a barbed wire fence from where we needed to be. Google Maps got us to within 20 yards but the last 20 were impossible. Ended up taking a cab to the access road. We were glad we did not drive as the cab got us much closer to the entrance than if we had to park. Long line to buy admission. Eco friendly festival sold us a paper ticket then took it back at the gate 10 feet away. Long line to get 21+ wristband then ANOTHER long line to purchase beer tickets ($5/beer = 5 tickets -- again, not eco friendly) and on the the NEXT long line for beer. Three choices available only -- Wright Plus, Burning River and Christmas Ale. In July. With 100% humidity. Okay..... Music was kind of lame. Only one of the stages had chairs so if you go, consider bringing one. Food choices were limited. I love the idea of this festival but it could be much better executed.

An afternoon of beers, food, and friends in Lincoln Park ? What could go wrong ?…read more My first beer festival and I was a bit disappointed. Note, this isn't a beer tasting. It's a beerfest where most people were getting drunk. You likely won't have the chance to chat with the rep. pouring the beer, there was a line of 5+ people behind you waiting for their beer. I was in VIP [thanks brother-in-law!] which for some amount (I think he paid a discounted $60/ticket, through a groupon), offered a private VIP area with a food station, our own port-o-potties, food from BRGR9, and 2 additional beer stations (of Goose Island), a covered tent, and seats (thanks to the Lincoln Park). Excellent food by BRGR9 ! They had the complimentary food (burgers, homemade corn dogs - the first corn dog that I've ever liked - the breading was homemade and light, salad, mac and cheese with sundried tomatoes and bacon - awesome]. Now, water for us ? A staffer told us water should be available but promised it was on the way and it came around 2-3p. For the proletariat non-VIPs, there were 5-6 food vendors, and water for $2. Besides the food and booze, there was a volleyball net and a handful of vendors in Lincoln Park. Next time, they should use a larger portion of the park because people were crowding around each other and near the beer lines. Although the Scene promotes other events around town town, they could have promoted their own event better. Their website, their facebook event, the latest copy of their paper magazine and the ticket itself didn't even include information like whether there was a rain date, whether any seating available (the only seating was on the grass unless you were in VIP), whether there was reentry [there was not], and what was exactly included in the VIP package. The beer selection ? Decent. They promoted the event as featuring 100+ brews, and I thought they were likely just right around that number, a little under it maybe. Many from local microbreweries, a few big 'micro' ones (new castle, sam adams, yuengling), don't think any of them were from Europe besides Delirium and New Castle. None of the brews as far as I know were exclusive or limited editions, but there still many of them that I didn't have yet. On the positive side, they had enough porta-potties, the volunteers and beer reps were nice. The lines to get the beer weren't bad, I usually waited 3-5 minutes each time but they could also improve on that. Unfortunately by 4:45 PM, with over an hour left of the event, nearly all but 1 or 2 stations were out of beer. We left about 45 minutes before it ended, all of the places were out of beer. Did I have a good time ? Yes. Would I pay that much again ? Nope. I'll try brewzilla or krusty's next time instead, hopefully they wouldn't run of beer there. If you're interested in going next year, bring your own water, get there early, and bring chairs if you want to sit.

I haven't gone to any other beer fests in the NEO region but this was pretty good at a reasonable…read morecost. It rained a bit this year, but it was still an enjoyable event. There were about 30 beer vendors at the event, each with a few varieties of their brews. Some local brews were present such as Brew Kettle, Portside, and Cellar Rats to name a few. You'll certainly find your favorite type of ale here. There was also a Tito's booth that was serving cocktails. Although they were a bit on the weaker side, its nice having another drink choice other than beer. Yelp was also present. My friends and I made pretzel necklaces which we snacked during the fest. I was told that pretzel necklaces are a tradition at this event. There were people who brought their own necklaces with large pretzels! Reading the reviews from previous years, it seems like running out of beer was the main concern, it wasn't an issue this year. The admission included 10 tickets for samples, some vendors didn't even ask/take the tickets. I had 4 tickets left at the end of the day and I couldn't drink anymore. My only complaint was that the booths should have signs ABOVE the vendors and not on the tables. It was a bit difficult finding the vendors within each booth/area. Looking forward to it next year and hopefully it'll be dry and sunny!

I purchased 5 wine drinkers tickets ahead of time and while on line it would not let me purchase a…read moredesignated driver ticket for $20 and said to get it a the entry. We walked up and checked in and asked for the "DD" ticket AND they said that they didn't have any and that person could not enter. During my rant at the door people were walking out and people were walking in with children in strollers and dogs on leashes and they told me that it was out of their hands and they couldn't help me and that person would not be aloud in. What a disgrace. I will NEVER PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF GIANT EAGLE MARKET PLACE ACTIVITY AGAIN - what a betrayal on their part. I will not go patronize Giant Eagle from this day forward or any of their vendors participating in the wine fest. What a disappointment. Bad vibes. I asked for the superior advisor and they sent me another person of the same caliber to let me think that I'm talking to someone in charge. Bad management' . Told me the same BS of course. Our DD which was my husband and father of my adult daughter had to wait outside the entire time - it did not turn out to be an enjoyable event.

Great venue to sample beers, wines, and various spirits. All the vendors are knowledgeable and…read moregenerous in their pours.10 tickets.... doesn't matter you can not possibly run low on tickets! I tasted some new tequilas and learned about brewing and vineyards. Music, shopping, and drink is perfect equation for as fun night in the streets of crocker park I only wish there was more food too...i absorb the intake of alcohol. Luckily there are enough restaurants near by to stop after the tasting to be able to p as use and be able to drive home!!

This is exactly one of those events that makes you want Downtown Cleveland to be just like this all…read morethe time: Lights, cheer, positive energy buzzing about. The holidays are officially here! In case you haven't been to Winterfest before, this is a daylong celebration of the start of the holiday season. It culminates with the lighting of the tree in Public Square, an outdoor concert, Santa and fireworks. In the middle, there's a Holiday VIllage market with lots of local shops, fun for the family, sleigh rides and more! It's put on by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance with lots of partners, sponsors and such that help fund the event. It's the perfect activity for the family and, the best part, it's free! Heck, even bring a date to this terrific event. It's really magical. Just hang on to the young ones at nighttime, because it gets really crowded and easy to get lost. And by free, I mean as long as you don't fall for all the sneaky vendors trying to sell your kids glow sticks, and other over-priced, useless pieces of crap. You know those things will most likely be lost in their toy boxes, never to be remember again. I would suggest, as long as the weather is decent, to park in the flats and walk up. Not only will it save you money on parking, but you'll also avoid most of the traffic heading in and out. And also be aware that the freeways will be clogged. It's the nature of the beast, people. Overall, this is a great, family-friendly, free event that really kicks off the holiday season. It's not to be missed! I mean, why would you want to? Oh, and try stopping by the Winter Wine & Ale Fest afterwards. It's not free, but its a great time! Just pick up tickets beforehand to partake in lots of wine, beer and local food tastings.

This review is particularly for the Winter Wine & Ale Festival and my first time experience was…read moreamazing. The event was organized perfectly. It was located in the square and the decor was very Christmas-y. People actually dressed up for this so not your average get together and pretty classy. Jazz music was playing in the center of the court and huge Xmas tree in the middle for more picture taking. The food was unlimited and tasted very good. My favorites were the Zoup (pumpkin & lobster bisque) and Mac n Cheese with Short Rib Meat. There were a total of about 6-7 food places, and plenty of wine and beer. For a great Black Friday deal, I got my ticket for $25 versus the full price of $50. This was worth the deal because you get 20 drink tickets - I had 16 left at the last hour and pretty much didn't really need them. I would definitely go again next year. Free coat check and parking, I don't think anything can beat that! Plus, a Yelp booth was there so I got my gear.

We try to make it to Ingenuity Fest every year. It is a huge area full of bands, activities and art…read moreinstallations. It makes me happy they are putting an older building to good use. It is also very family friendly and offers tons of activities for kids. There are things to do both inside and outside. It is not for the faint of heart. To see everything it involves lots of walking. There are some food trucks. I feel like there could have been more. Also the drink vendors inside did not have water available. The building is so large air is not an option and it gets very warm. If you want to learn about fun resources we have in Cleveland this is the place for you. Did you know Cleveland has a Ghostbusters team? It is a shame it only happens once a year, but the planning that goes into this event has to start when the last event ends.

What is wrong with me that I forgot to update my review a longggg time ago? The 2019 IngenuityFest…read morewas simply exceptional. It was one of the best experiences I have had at a Cleveland arts event in recent history. I felt such a deep connection to every activation in every nook and cranny at this zany and wonderful event. At the 2019 festival, I was so thrilled at the commitment they made to accessibility. There were clear accessibility markers on their maps, accessible seating opportunities and just a general heightened awareness that felt palpable. It says so much to me about a business or organization that takes the time to live up inclusivity values and not just use them as buzzwords. As always, the immersive art, hands-on activities, music, dance and off-the-beaten-path installations were amazing. There was always something to see, do, touch or listen to. Everything is an intersection of science, technology and creativity. Ingenuity can be hard to describe if you've never been. Do yourself a favor and get there, explore and fall in love with Cleveland arts. You won't regret it!

Wow! I was super impressed with the difference in the conventions this year compared to the very…read morefirst one they had here five years ago. The space was until used amazingly and there was so much more room to walk around. I was happy to see the facility was well taken care of and clean, and equipped with hand sanitizers throughout the building. The bathrooms were well maintained and the staff for both the convention and convention center were a lot nicer than the other cons I've been to. The food court and marketplaces were open though some stalls were going to open tomorrow and Sunday instead of today. I loved the dumpling stand and recommend the vegetable dumplings. The food was pricey but that's to be expected for conventions and other events like this. I didn't get to any panels this evening because there was SO MUCH to look at but tonight hosted a lot of really interesting cosplay panels such as foam crafting and materials. I also saw some panels that included tabletop gaming which is awesome! Note: some panels require an additional ticket not included with the wristbands. Now on to the artist alley! Oh. My. God. There were so many new and interesting artists that I know weren't there years ago. There was a delicious fudge shop and cashew stall and some really amazing comic stalls. The artists were fabulous and I made some new friends. I would like to recognize Literary Alterations for some of the coolest fandom jewelry and Macbath for their Shakespeare inspired soaps. I think the most disappointing aspect of this convention was the guest lineup. I'm not much of an Outlander fan and I've met the Princess Bride lineup at a previous convention. Many of the other attendees and booth owners also were disappointed by the lineup. In the past we've had Billie Piper, David Tennant, Jason Mamoa, and William Shatner just to name a few. No hate on the guests themselves this year but I just didn't see the big names that other cities are receiving. I feel like Cleveland Wizard World got cheated this year. Overall I am so thankful to Yelp for giving me the opportunity to go this year. I actually hope to be able to attend more Wizard World conventions because I was so pleased with how it was run. LLAP everyone!

Here at Comic Con Cleveland! So many things to see! I just met Chewbacca! Pretty kool day! Been…read moregoing on since last night! Today is the last day!

Hot as heck out but it was an awesome event. So many Ohio wines to taste test. Some vendors to shop…read morefor unique items. Multiple food choices. Can't wait for next year.

Visiting this wine fest is an annual outing for my family. I love trying wines from different Ohio…read morewineries. Of course, as with everything else, the ticket price has gone up but it's still worth the money. Some places are more generous, with the pour, than others but there are so many wines to taste that you won't mind a short pour or two in the end. There is everything from sweet to dry, reds, whites and blushes. I would definitely recommend comfortable shoes for all the walking and all the wine tasting. This event seems to gain more and more visitors each year, so the lines can get long, and especially if it's a fave. I also enjoy visiting all the vendors and grabbing something to eat.

had my aunts wedding here, very nice staff and they were flexible. very nice venue for hosting a…read moresmaller wedding.