It’s hard to believe that this year is the 29th annual Gorge Blues & Brews Festival! This once small festival has grown so much over the years, keep reading to learn more about the history of this unique festival!
Did you know that the festival’s original name was Brews Blues & BBQs? The first festival took place in June 1993 and was located on the front lawn of Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington. It started off as a small beer festival that included about six or seven breweries, the accordion player from The Rheinlander and some great bratwurst.
The following year the event was moved to Teo Park on the Stevenson waterfront which remained its home through 2009. With the festival growing every year, the need for more space became undeniable so the event was relocated to the Skamania County Fairgrounds in 2010.
Re-named Gorge Blues & Brews Festival in 2011, the event continues to take place at the Fairgrounds where there is plenty of space, lots of parking and the added benefit of camping on site. The Fairgrounds provides a beautiful setting along with a solid lineup of the Pacific Northwest craft beers, regional music favorites and endless options of great food!
The expanded space at the Fairgrounds has also allowed for the addition of a second stage and the event went from hosting 3 bands to 10 bands this year!
Another fun addition in 2011 was the introduction of “Locals Night” on Friday evening which expanded the festival from one day to two days. Friday night features only local beer, bands and food vendors.
There will be 35 craft beer taps, 3 wineries and 1 distillery! This years music line-up includes:
- Too Slim & The Taildraggers
- Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys
- Coyote Kings w/ Tiphony Dames
- Stacy Jones Band
- Michele d’Amour & The Love Dealers
- Robin Gibson Band
- Stevie and the Blue Flames
- Seth Myzel Band
- Mark Hurwitz and Gin Creek
- Big River Blues Band
After a 2 year hiatus due to COVID, the festival is back and it is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! Get your tickets here
Coming out to the Gorge Blues and Brews Festival? Stevenson, Washington is the perfect basecamp for all of your Gorge adventures! With world-class kiteboarding, award-winning breweries and exquisite local fare, there are endless things to do once you arrive in Stevenson! And that’s just in town 🙂 Staying in the Gorge HQ means you’re only minutes from hikes, wineries, waterfalls, scenic drives, fishing, golfing and SO MUCH MORE! Book your trip now!
