JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
It's the hottest ticket in town. We're talking about the 3rd annual Top of the Hops Beer Festival coming up Saturday afternoon.
In fact, so hot, the VIP tickets have been sold out for a week now.
Organizers are setting up the Jackson Convention Center for what they expect to be a full of head of beer drinkers, brewers, experts and the curious for the 3rd annual Top of the Hops beer fest. Marika Cackett is manager of communications and public relations for the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau. She said this year's event is a game changer.
Cackett said, "There's new beer laws, new beer coming in. A lot of people from the whole state coming in; staying at hotels downtown; great hotel packages with it; Hilton Garden Inn, so I think we're going to see a sold out crowd tomorrow."
And that means plenty of revenue for Jackson businesses.
Cackett said, "Which is about a $150,000 economic impact."
Craig Hendry is president of Raise Your Pints, the group that fought for Mississippi's new beer laws and launched the annual festival.
Hendry said, "People go to beer festivals to try new stuff whereas last year wasn't too much new so this year is gonna be a lot of new beer so people are very excited about this year and from what we heard a lot of people are gonna show up."
Mississippi's own Lazy Magnolia Brewery Company will roll out its new, more potent offering.
William Mestayer, of Lazy Magnolia, said, "It's a big deal for us, obviously being that this is the first year that we'll actually be able to brew bigger beers so we are debating some of our bigger staff but it's a great festival for Mississippi."
There will be plenty of good food and music to go with the suds. Organizers are urging you to drink responsibly, even offering discount tickets for designated drivers.
The fun begins at 3p.m. Saturday afternoon for VIP ticket holders and 4pm for everyone else.
The festival ends at 8pm.
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