Fayetteville St. Patrick’s Day celebration adds craft beer events on the downtown square

The Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band helps lead the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Organizers of the annual St. Patrick’s Day on The Hill celebration have something new in store for downtown Fayetteville in 2014.

The third-year event, set for Saturday, March 15, will include a Craft Beer Village showcasing Arkansas craft brewers as they compete in the state’s first ever Stout Brewing Championship.

The competition includes categories for both professional brewers and home brewers. An anonymous panel of pros will judge the hobbyists, while the winner of the professional category will be decided by a people’s choice-style of judging.

The celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. with the annual St. Patricks Day parade, which will travel around the square before heading north and then west along Dickson Street to West Avenue.

By 2 p.m a portion of East Avenue on the square will be blocked off where the Craft Beer Village will be open until 6 p.m. Expect music, food and other festivities throughout the afternoon. Also expect a $2 fee for ID wristbands which will be required to purchase beverages and judging booklets.

Entry for the professional Stout Brewing Championship category closes on Feb. 14, but home brewers looking to enter a beer have until Friday, Feb 21.

Event organizer Don Brown said at least five craft breweries are already on board, including four from Northwest Arkansas and one from Little Rock.

After scrolling through the event’s Facebook page, it looks like Fossil Cove Brewing and Stone’s Throw Brewing are both expected to participate.

For more information or to fill out an entry form, visit stpatricksonthehill.com

We’ve asked Brown if there will be a fee to get into the Craft Brew Village. We’ll update this post once we find out.
Update: There is a $2 fee for wristbands required to purchase beverages and judging booklets.