Burp Fest at Michigan Summer Beer Festival 2026

The Michigan Summer Beer Festival traces its origins to 2000, when the Michigan Brewers Guild launched what would become the first of its signature annual festivals. At the time, Michigan's craft beer scene was still in its formative years, and the festival served as a rallying point for a growing community of independent brewers looking to make their mark. The inaugural events featured around 50 breweries and several hundred beers, a modest beginning for what would become the state's premier beer gathering.

Ypsilanti's Riverside Park in the historic Depot Town neighborhood has been the festival's home for its entire history, and the location has become inseparable from the event's identity. The park's riverside setting, shade trees, and proximity to Depot Town's restaurants and shops provide a natural, comfortable environment that distinguishes the festival from indoor convention-style beer events. The annual transformation of the park into a massive outdoor beer garden has become one of Ypsilanti's most anticipated community events.

Over its 27-year history, the festival has grown to reflect the explosive expansion of Michigan's craft brewing industry. What was once a gathering of 50 or so breweries now features over 100 Michigan breweries pouring more than 1,000 different beers, from flagship lagers to experimental sours, barrel-aged stouts, and everything in between. The Michigan Brewers Guild uses the festival as a showcase for the full diversity and quality of Michigan-brewed beer, and for many attendees, it's an annual tradition that marks the unofficial start of summer.

The festival has also expanded its programming over the years, adding live music stages, a Makers Market supporting local artists, food vendor areas, and the unexpected addition of wrestling shows. These extras round out the experience and give the festival a festive, community-oriented feel that goes beyond just beer sampling.