Brewhaha Festival Coming to Arista on Oct. 15

Enterprise ColumnistPosted: 09/16/2016 04:39:28 PM MDT

Lisa Bathurst Rec Notes

Something new is brewing in Broomfield. And if you’re a fan of brews, this just might be the event you’ve been waiting for. On Oct. 15, the Broomfield Brewhaha will make its debut at Arista Park.

The event, which will feature local breweries, food trucks, bands, and yard games, is not just new in name, it’s also new in concept. While other special events have had a family focus and are generally located in the center of the city, the Brewhaha is meant to extend Broomfield’s reach to its newer areas and residents.

“We wanted to create an event featuring Arista, reaching out to the residents and businesses there so they know some of the city services available to them while simultaneously showcasing what’s special and unique about Arista to the rest of Broomfield and beyond,” explained Kay Gazaway, Broomfield’s Community Events Coordinator.

She, along with other organizers at Broomfield Rec, have had a busy few months getting this new event up and running while managing the others already in place (Broomfield Days, the Spooktacular, and Santa Cellar Craft Fair to name a few). But with permits in hand and logistics coordinated with city and venue officials, they were ready to move on to the finer details.

A hand-selected committee of rec staff (“millennials like most of the folks who live in Arista,” Kay explained) was consulted to choose the entertainment: Andy Hackbarth, described as an Americana songwriter with folk and clas- sical influences; and the Moses Jones band, a high-energy party band, made the final cut.

Taste of Texas and Taj Palace food trucks will be on hand to provide their culinary fare. And four local breweries, Big Choice, Nighthawk, Wonderland, and Four Noses, will take center stage with their handcrafted brews.

Kay said it was important to choose breweries from within Broomfield.

“All breweries are local to Broomfield and that was very intentional,” she said, “because we wanted to highlight what’s special and unique about Broomfield.”

She said it’s also important to highlight one of Broomfield’s newest areas.

“This event is focused on the young, single professionals who live and work in Arista,” she said, but “we hope the rest of Broomfield will come to the event to explore and enjoy this special neighborhood.”

So if getting your know your city a little better while enjoying some tasty beverages, delicious food, and lively en- tertainment is just the opportunity you’ve been looking for, you can drop by Arista Park starting at noon Saturday, Oct. 15.

The park, officially known as Arista Park Central Court, is across from Proto’s Pizza with 8000 Arista Place the closest address. Festivities will continue until 5 p.m., and the event will be held rain or shine. The event will also include a food drive to benefit FISH, so please bring along any items you are able to donate.

As this is the first year of the event, Kay said she’s not quite sure what to expect. But she’s hoping for a good turn- out and looking forward to seeing the event grow and evolve over time.

With the passage of Broomfield Days this weekend, nearing 30 years since its inception, we know that Broomfield has a longstanding tradition of embracing its community events. And we look forward to the Brewhaha keeping us quenched for years to come.

For more information on the Broomfield Brewhaha, or any of our other special events, please visit broom- fieldrecreation.com where you’ll find a link to our special events page.

Lisa Bathurst is an administrative technician for Broomfield Recreation Services and the Rec Notes columnist. Email her at lbathurst@broomfield.org