Live Music, Local Brews, & Good Food
For the month of September, we’re celebrating the Community of Lebanon Association and their Music & Brew Fest as our Year of the Arts Feature! On Saturday, September 21st, from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., live music and local breweries will take center stage at the Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater in Coleman Memorial Park for this annual festival. Though enjoying handcrafted brews while listening to live music under some of the oldest and largest trees in the state might seem like reason enough to attend, we know some of you might need a little nudging. So, here are ten reasons why we think you should be at this year’s Music & Brew Fest…
1. Local Breweries. Need we say more?
Four breweries from the Lebanon Valley will be in attendance at the Music & Brew Fest—and they’re bringing free samples! Schaylor Brewing Company, Lebanon Valley Craft Brewery, Rotunda Brewing Company, and Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery will all be offering free samples, as well as beer by the glass for purchase. Take a tasting tour of the samples and discover a new favorite, or turn back to an old reliable with a glass of your favorite craft beer from the Valley.
2. Some of Our Favorite Local Bands (and Some New Ones from Out of Town!)
Now that we’ve talked brews, it’s time to talk music. Starting off the festival at 2:00 p.m. will be Nailed It, a local band covering classics of rock, pop, and alternative in their self-proclaimed “slightly acoustic” style. Following Nailed It, Nearly York will hit the stage at 3:15 p.m. With four new singles released this year, this alt-pop trio is not one to miss. (Pro tip: get those vocals warmed up before the festival with Nearly York’s music on Spotify or Apple Music). At 4:45 p.m., The Midnight Rock Show, one of the East Coast’s best ‘70s tribute bands, will take the stage. Then, at 6:45 p.m., the festival’s headlining act, Boy Band Review, will take over. Touted as the best boy band tribute show in the country, Boy Band Review has sold out countless venues and performed alongside NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick.
Nearly York at the 2023 Music & Brew Fest.
3. Pretzel Necklaces & Grand Prizes
At the Music & Brew Fest, we’re making sure you’ve got something nice and salty to go along with your handcrafted beverage—and your outfit too. Enjoy a free pretzel necklace to wear and snack on during the festival, courtesy of Visit Lebanon Valley! We’ll also have a prize wheel with Libations Trail merchandise and a chance for you to win a grand prize basket with gift cards to every location on the Libations Trail (that’s over $400 worth of date nights… just saying).
4. Experience an Outdoor Concert in a Historic Park
Today, Coleman Memorial Park serves as a host to outdoor concerts, recreational opportunities, and some of the state’s tallest and oldest trees. But back in 1852, the park was a grand estate that served as the home of some of Pennsylvania’s wealthiest individuals.
George Dawson Coleman, grandson of Robert Coleman (Pennsylvania’s first millionaire), controlled much of the Coleman family’s booming iron furnace business, including the well-known Cornwall Iron Furnace. In the 1840s, George experimented with building a new type of furnace in the north-west corner of Lebanon. Soon after, he began construction of the first mansion in what is now Coleman Memorial Park.
For years to follow, George continued expanding the area into an estate with a number of mansions, gardens, and stables for his family. Although the mansions have since been razed, their ruins, along with remains of the furnace and other buildings from the estate, can still be found throughout this historic park.
The park’s amphitheater sees crowds all summer long for outdoor concerts.
5. Get Ahead on the Libations Trail
The Music & Brew Fest also serves as the kickoff for Visit Lebanon Valley’s Fall Libations Trail. This eight-week, self-guided trail allows you to earn points by checking in at participating restaurants and breweries through the free Libations Trail digital pass. For this fall’s trail, we’ve got all-new prizes, and by attending the Music & Brew Fest, you’ll earn an extra 100 points toward them! One of the prizes even includes a chance to win our Libations Trail Grand Prize Basket, worth over $400! Other prizes include a brand-new Libations Trail decal and a cozy Libations Trail beanie.
6. Gather with Friends
Finally get your friend group out of the group chat at the Music & Brew Fest! With the festival running from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., enjoy this chance to slow down and spend some time with friends while listening to live music, tasting local brews, and grabbing some food truck fare. Plus, right before the festival begins, the CLA will also be hosting a cornhole tournament—perfect for getting those competitive friends out, too!
Attendees at the 2023 Music & Brew Fest.
7. Support a Local Organization Making a Difference in the Valley
Supporting local organizations and small businesses is essential for the livelihood of our community. The Community of Lebanon Association (CLA) is at the core of that effort in Lebanon, tasked with organizing annual events like the Lebanon Holiday Parade and the Car & Motorcycle Show. The CLA also helps beautify downtown Lebanon by maintaining flower baskets and seasonal decorations. These efforts go a long way for visitors and locals alike. “As a resident and local business owner, I appreciate being a part of the CLA and helping to make Lebanon a great place to live!” says CLA Vice President Emmily Longenecker.
By attending the Music & Brew Fest, you’ll be supporting the CLA and their mission to strengthen our community and help Lebanon thrive as a place to live, work, shop, learn, and do business. And when it comes to supporting an organization that is doing good for the community, we’d argue that doing so by enjoying local brews and live music is a pretty sweet deal!
9. Local Food Truck Favorites
At this year’s festival, food truck attendees will include Cool Bean Brews, Sittin’ Pickin’ Chickin’, Hresko’s BBQ Pit, Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant, The Homestead Chef, LE’s Cupcake Truck, and Kona Ice. As some of our favorite Lebanon Valley small businesses, these food trucks will provide tons of delicious options all in one spot. There will also be a variety of vendors in attendance, including J & B Beard Oils, Modern Gent Hat Co., and 717 Bungalow Cigars.
Rotunda Brewing Company will have sample brews and glasses for purchase.
8. Compete in the Cornhole Tournament
Starting at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the Music & Brew Fest, the CLA will be holding a Cornhole Tournament in Coleman Memorial Park. So, if you’re someone who dominates cornhole boards at graduation parties and backyard barbecues, this is the event for you. Bring your team, compete with other cornhole enthusiasts, and then celebrate your win (or lack thereof) with brews, music, and local food trucks once the festival kicks off at 1:00 p.m.!
10. Enjoy the Final Days of Warm Weather
Okay, we can’t guarantee perfect weather, but we’ve got our fingers crossed for a beautiful day as we hold on to the last few weeks of warmth before the leaves change and winter quickly follows. Plus, if you’ve never been to Coleman Memorial Park or experienced live music in the park’s amphitheater, this time of year is perfect for doing just that! Be sure to bring your blanket or chair and enjoy the late summer, early fall weather in this historic park.
Originally held on 8th Street, the Music & Brew Fest was held at Coleman Memorial Park for the first time last year.
Grab Your Tickets Today!
If you’re ready to get brewin’ at the Music & Brew Fest, order tickets today—and be sure to use the code “Early Bird” for a discount!
We hope to see you there on Saturday, September 21st!
By Darby Seymour, Public Relations Manager, Visit Lebanon Valley
Check out our other Year of the Arts features here!
