Milford, Del. Brewgrass Festival Named Major Success

(Photo: Stefan Smi)

The Milford Brewgrass Festival was called an “inaugural event” all day Sunday. However, after the event was all said and done, event organizer Sarah Pletcher says it may be called an annual event in the future.

The festival offered live bluegrass music, food and beer tastings from local Delaware and Maryland breweries with a maximum of 500 participants. Pletcher says more than 500 tickets were sold.

“If I had to guess I would say there were around 550 people there because I had 600 cups, and we didn’t run out of cups!,” Pletcher said. “With the different bands that were there and the volunteers I would say there were about 850 people in the park.

The entrance fee was $100 for VIP, $30 for pre-registered, $40 at the door and $5 for designated drivers. Those that attended received a glass for their tastings.

The event was held at Bicentennial Park in Milford and the venue was split on both sides of the river. There were two stages at the event. Mule Train, Last Chance, Dan and James from Hooverville, Blue Hen Express played half hour sets and Flatland Drive, Magnolia Street Spring Band, Chapel Street Junction and Chester River Run Off played hour sets.

Dave Kenton plays in Bluehen Express and he could not believe how many people were at the event. Kenton said the audience was younger, ranging from mid-twenties to early fourties.

“I’m a big Milford promoter so if they asked me to go again, I’d definitely go,” Kenton said. “We donated our time, we got a lot of exposure and it was a great experience.”

Kenton said the line started at 1 p.m. and they stayed most of the afternoon despite the rain.

Pletcher says she came up with the idea for the event when she was on a roadtrip last May with her mom.

“My Mom and I went to Charleston, South Carolina, we stopped in North Carolina on the way and picked up a brochure at the visitors center,” Pletcher said. “In the brochure I saw a whole thing on their craft breweries and they do a Brewgrass festival each year so I borrowed the idea and brought it back to the marketing team.”

Dogfish Head, 3rd Wave, Argilla Brewing Company, Blue Earl, Crooked Hammock Brewery, Evo, Fordham and Dominon, Frozen Toes, Misspillion River Brewery, O.C. Brewing Company and Tall Tails were all present at the festival over the weekend.

Pletcher says this festival was a huge success, especially for a first-time event.

“As of today, I can say it will happen in the future,” Pletcher said.

Downtown Milford Inc. marketed the event over social media, namely Facebook, and was able to reach an audience outside of Delaware.

“Milford residents purchased the most tickers, there were some people from D.C., Hanover, PA., Alexandria, VA., Raleigh, NC. and a couple that moved here three months ago from Scotland and Australia.

If you’re a bluegrass lover and a craft beer enthusiast, but you missed this event, you may be in luck next year.

Photo: ‘John Mollura Photography’

John is a Milford resident and loves to capture the essence of an instant and transport people to faraway places through his camera and narratives. To capture your special event, as well inquire about his fine art prints from his adventures around the world, contact John at 302-222-6308 or john@molluraphoto.com(www.molluraphoto.com) and on Facebook at ‘John Mollura Photography’.