FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the California Festival of Beers?
What are the ticket prices?
Are Designated Driver tickets available?
What type of payment types do you accept?
Where can I buy my tickets?
What do I get for the price of my ticket?
Will there be a Coat/Back Pack check?
Are children allowed?
Will Food and Non-Alcoholic beverages be available at the Festival?
Should I drive or take public transportation?
Parking at the Festival
Why aren't I allowed to use Non-Festival glasses for my brew?
What is the California Festival of Beers?
Who puts on the California Festival of Beers?
Intoxicated Guests
Marketing
Prohibited items
Use of Cameras
Tickets
Where is the California Festival of Beers?
The California Festival of Beers has returned to it's roots and San Luis Obispo for 2012 and beyond! We are excited to announce the new festival location of Madonna Meadows and Expo Center.
What are the ticket prices?
See Tickets section for detailed information.
Are Designated Driver tickets available?
Yes, Designated Driver tickets are available for all sessions for $25 each. Free, non-alcoholic sodas, made by some of the Participating Breweries will be available. Designated Drivers are welcome to attend the Grand Tasting and seminars, walk around the festival, or relax in the Designated Driver Lounge. Designated Drivers caught sampling the brews will be escorted out.
What type of payment types do you accept?
No, we do not accept personal checks. We do accept cash or major credit cards Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Note: Tickets for the 2011 California Festival of Beers Grand Tasting sold out in advance. There were no on-site ticket sales. Please plan ahead!
Where can I buy my tickets?
Tickets will be available in February and may be ordered online from Vallitix and Boo-Boo Records. See Purchase Tickets for more information.
What do I get for the price of my ticket?
Ticket prices for each event includes a commemorative tasting cup, unlimited two-ounce samples of your choice of beers, live music, and a great time!
You must be 21+ years old with valid ID to attend.
Will there be a Coat/Back Pack check?
There will not be a coat check. Also, lockers are not available for rent. Backpacks are not permitted in the festival, so please plan accordingly!
Are children allowed?
No. Due to the large amount of attendees and the consumption of alcohol, we do not allow anyone under the age of 21 to attend any event associated with the California Festival of Beers.
Will Food and Non-Alcoholic beverages be available at the Festival?
There will be a variety of food, water and sodas available for purchase onsite.
Should I drive or take public transportation?
As this event draws more than 6,000 people over the course of three days, parking can be difficult. Public transportation is always recommended when drinking alcohol. We would like to offer a few alternate options for you.
Stay at a downtown hotel, and take a taxi or walk. Taxis will be available after all events.
We also offer FREE shuttles with pick-ups and stops in North SLO County, South SLO County, and within San Luis Obispo city limits. All Festival shuttles are free for Attendee use. Please see our Shuttle Schedule for more information.
Parking at the Festival
Parking is available at the Festival for a fee of $5 per car.
Why aren't I allowed to use Non-Festival glasses for my brew?
For the safety of all, attendees must use ONLY the commemorative glass provided for all events. Our glasses are specially sized for both optimal pour and amount.
What is the California Festival of Beers?
The California Festival of Beers is the oldest and largest Beer Festival in California; the Festival is also a benefit for Hospice SLO (hyperlink to website), and has helped fund the free community programs and services offered by the organiztion since 1984.
For more information on the history of the Festival, please see our Festival History page.
Who puts on the California Festival of Beers?
The California Festival of Beers has been held every year since 1984 and is coordinated and presented by the Special Events Office of Hospice SLO, a non-profit community service agency in San Luis Obispo. Click here to learn more about Hospice SLO (Hyperlink to website)
Is The California Festival of Beers an all-you-can-drink party?
The goal of the California Festival of Beers is to allow attendees to taste a variety of new and different styles of beer. While we believe beer should be fun, the festival's purpose (other than raising money for a wonderful organization) is to educate and create lovers of beer.
Intoxicated Guests
All guests of the California Festival of Beers are expected to drink responsibly and ensure they have a safe, responsible means of transportation before leaving the facility. Any guest who is intoxicated before entering the event may be denied entry to the facility with no refund available.
Any guest found intoxicated within the event and causing a disturbance, as determined by management, will be asked to leave the facility without refund and may be subject to further consequences.
Marketing
No unapproved marketing will be allowed at the California Festival of Beers. This includes, but is not limited to:
Unauthorized distribution of literature, business cards, flyers, handouts, pamphlets, other written forms, etc.
Chanting or shouting words associated with commercial advertising.
Possessing signs/flags/banners/posters displaying words or pictures associated with commercial advertising.
All cases are subject to review and decision by event management. Guests found to be marketing as determined by management may be subject to ejection.
Guests found passing out literature or any written forms of unauthorized marketing will be asked to collect all pieces of marketing handed out and dispose of them in the trash or recycling. Any additional pieces of marketing found make the guest/marketing company subject to being billed for cleanup costs.
Guests/companies repeatedly found marketing on property may be cited with trespassing.
Prohibited items
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:
Outside alcohol
Outside glasses or cups
Bottles
Cans
Outside food/beverages
Weapons (i.e. knives, pepper spray, stun-guns, any concealed weapons, firearms, etc.)
Illegal drugs
Chemicals
Fireworks, smoke bombs, etc.
Backpacks, suitcases, large beach bags, etc.
Skateboards, roller skates, ice skates, use of roller shoes, etc.
Un-approved pamphlets, handouts, advertisements, etc. (see “Marketing”)
Other items as determined by facility management
Event management reserves the right to handle each occurrence on a case by case basis. Depending on the item, the guest may either be asked to remove the item from the facility or dispose of the item, or may be ejected from the facility.
All bags, jackets, and guests are subject to search upon entering the event.
Items which have varying policies include: cameras, video/audio recording equipment, and signs/flags/banners/posters.
Use of Cameras
Guests are welcome to bring personal cameras into the event, however, video cameras are not allowed. Professional photography/cameras and any video are not allowed in the event without a media credential. Professional photography access is determined on a case by case basis by event management.
Tickets
Guests must possess a valid ticket at all times. Guests unable to produce a ticket may be ejected from the event without refund.
Guests who attempt to “sneak” into the facility may be arrested and cited for evasion of admission.
*Note—These policies and procedures that are subject to change and update at any time.
Photos
Photos
Hours and Schedule
