The wait is finally over for local beer enthusiasts.

The 14th annual Upper Peninsula Fall Beer Festival, which will have over 500 options to choose from, will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

According to a Michigan Brewers Guild press release, this year’s event will feature 87 breweries with over 513 beers and 92 unique styles to sample.

Tickets for the Michigan Brewers Guild’s Upper Peninsula Fall Beer Festival are currently on sale at MiBeer.com. General admission is from 1 to 6 p.m. with gates opening at noon for a VIP hour for MBG enthusiast members.

Tickets are $50 per person in advance, plus service fees, and $60 the day of the event. Tickets for designated drivers are $10 at the gate. Admission is for anyone 21 and older with a valid ID.

Tickets include admission to the festival and 15 tokens for beer samples.

This year’s breweries include local favorites Barrel + Beam, Blackrocks Brewery, Drifa Brewing and Ore Dock Brewing. Other breweries include New Holland Brewing from downstate Holland, Upper Hand Brewery from Escanaba and Petoskey Brewing from Petoskey.

The MBG held its first festival in July 1998, according to its press release.

“Today, (the Michigan Brewers Guild) hosts five annual festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan beer produced by its approximately 300 member breweries,” the press release said.

MBG’s mission is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.

“Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million,” MBG said. “In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks number six in the nation — thus supporting its claim as ‘The Great Beer State.'”

Saturday’s forecast looks promising for festival goers, and the leaves have begun to change in some areas. That must mean that it’s time for the Upper Peninsula Fall Beer Festival. We hope that attendees remember to drink responsibly, and have a safe and fun time at the event.

For a full list of this year’s breweries, visit beerlist.num1pirate.com/2023up/. For more information on this year’s event, visit mibeer.com/Events/up-fall-beer-festival.