Kings Island’s first beer festival this weekend


HOW TO GO

What: The Banshee Brew Festival at Kings Island

Where: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason

When: 4-10 p.m. June 12-13 with the last pour at 9 p.m.

Location: A designated area for Banshee Brew will be set up behind the Eiffel Tower on International Street.

Cost: Event tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.visitkingsisland.com/bansheebrew. Tickets are $29.99 for guests that already have park admission (season pass, ticket purchased at Kroger) or $59.99, which covers both the event and all day park admission. Event tickets will be available to purchase the day of the event inside the park for $35. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to participate in this event and to purchase and consume alcohol.

Beer: Over 30 varieties of beer are for sale on any given day during daily operation, scattered throughout the park. This includes three specialty beers — Banshee Brew, Beast Bock and the Diamonback Ale. Locations selling beer include the Festhaus, Bier Garten, LaRosa's in Rivertown, Juke Box Diner (beer cart), Rivertown Potato Works, Reds Hall of Fame Grille, Snake Pit and the Coconut Cove bar in Soak City, plus Gluten-free beers at Coney Potato Works.

More information: 513-754-5700 or visitkingsisland.com

Kings Island is aiming to have a dining experience that is as memorable for guests as the thrilling rides that the park is known for.

The park’s inaugural Banshee Brew Festival is one of several events the theme park is planning this season aimed at foodies.

A ticket to the June 12-13 event includes 15 5-ounce craft beer samples and two food tickets — each good for one of seven featured entrées — plus one souvenir mug.

Live music and more than 24 breweries and 100 beers will be featured at the event, which runs from 4-10 p.m. each day with the last pour at 9 p.m.

“An event like the Banshee Brew Festival fits in with what we’ve been working toward,” said Don Helbig, public relations area manager. “Our guests are always looking for new experiences, things they can enjoy and share with family and friends. When you add the events in with the thrills of the park, it enhances that best day of the summer experience for our guests.”

Featured dishes include:

  • Grilled Italian sausage with roasted peppers and onions, served with homemade cheese tort
  • Polish sausage served with a side of German potato salad with crisp bacon toppings
  • Chicago-style hot dog served with a side of seasoned potato chips
  • Beer-battered fish served with chips and traditional tartar sauce
  • Mesquite grilled jumbo chicken wings served with fresh-cut celery and carrots
  • Pierogi sautéed with bacon and onions served with chive sour cream
  • Smoked pork or chicken served over a cornbread muffin and a side of house-made coleslaw

Outside of the Italian Sausage, which is available in Soak City, the menu is exclusive to the Banshee Brew Festival event.

Featured breweries include:

  • Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. (Lexington, Ky.)
  • Blue Moon Brewing Co. (Golden, Colo.)
  • Christian Moerlein Brewery (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Ei8ht Ball Brewing (Newport, Ky.)
  • Goose Island Beer Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Jackie O's Brewery (Athens, Ohio)
  • Kona Brewing Company (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)
  • Leinenkugel Brewing Co. (Chippewa Falls, Wis.)
  • Listermann Brewing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Old Firehouse Brewery (Williamsburg, Ohio)
  • Revolution Brewing (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Rivertown Brewing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Rhinegeist (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Shock Top Brewing Co. (St. Louis, Mo.)
  • SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Ga.)
  • Thirsty Dog Brewing Company (Akron, Ohio)
  • Triple Digit Brewing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Urban Artifact (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Weidemann Brewing Co. (Newport, Ky.)
  • West Sixth Brewing (Lexington, Ky.)
  • Widmer Bros. Brewing (Portland, Ore.)
  • Yuengling (Pottsville, Pa.)

The park’s inaugural Food Truck Festival will take place July 18-19 with more than 20 food trucks from the Greater Cincinnati area located throughout the park during the two-day event.

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