MARQUETTE — Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. this morning (at MiBeer.com) for the 17th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild on Saturday, Sept. 12 along the Lake Superior shoreline in Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park.

General Admission is 1-6 p.m., with the gates opening at noon for Enthusiast Members. Tickets are $55 per person in advance ($65 the day of). Those wanting a VIP experience can purchase tickets which allow for an extra hour of beer sampling. Those tickets are $75 in advance or $85 the day of. Admission is for those 21 years of age and older with a valid I.D. and are held rain or shine.

Formed in 1997, the Michigan Brewers Guild is the non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the local beer industry. With close to 300 member breweries, the Michigan Brewers Guild is a network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The guild hosted its first festival in July 1998 and today hosts four festivals that are produced for the industry, by the industry.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 11,000 full-time jobs to the state with a total economic impact of over $1.6 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #8 in the nation–supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”