Drink Up Outside

About this time last year, the swelling Missouri River flooded Parkville’s English Landing Park. This year, the only things likely to be flooded are inhibitions and liver capacity when the fifth-annual Parkville Microbrew Festival occupies the park at the south end of Main Street. A $20 entrance fee gets you a cup and unlimited sampling access to more than 100 beers from 24 Midwest microbreweries, including 75th Street, Free State, Blind Tiger, Little Apple, McCoy’s, Flat Branch, Power Plant, Flying Monkey and more (plus regional brewers Boulevard and Schlafly). The atmosphere — trails, tall trees, passing trains — is sure to beat the parking-garage ambience of last October’s KC Beerfest at the Legends, and even kids and nondrinkers can get amped about free performances from the Buttermilk Boys at around 1 p.m. and It’s Over at 3 p.m. More info on participating brewers and food vendors is online at Parkville Microbrew Festival.

Sat., April 26, 2008