Summer Ale Fest Hitting Philly Zoo Saturday

PHILADELPHIA – It's summer and that means lots of festivals, activities, and special events are planned in the Philadelphia area. In fact, this weekend the Philadelphia Zoo is hosting the Summer Ale Festival that will feature tons of beer and food, perfect for a summer event..

The festival will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at the zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia.

General admission is $60, VIP tickets are $75, and non-drinkers can get in for $35.

General admission gives you access to the zoo, a souvenir tasting cup, complimentary shuttle service to and from 30th and Market street across from 30th Street Station, and unlimited beer samples from more than 70 national, regional, and local brewers. You heard that right: unlimited.

VIP ticket holders get all that, but will have access to the festival one hour ahead of general admission ticket holders at 6 p.m. so you can have four hours of beer sampling.

Non-drinkers get access to the zoo and a complimentary bottle of water at the event's entrance. Those who aren't drinking still must be at least 21 years old.

You can buy tickets online here.

Seventy-one brewing companies will be offering tastings at the event, including local favorites Yards, Philadelphia Brewing Company, and Conshohocken Brewing Company, as well as national names like Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, and Yuengling.

See the full list of brewers that will offer tastings online here.

Tons of Philly food truck will be serving up grub at the event as well. They include:

• The Cow and The Curd
  
• Taco Mondo
  
• Philly Fry
  
• Brazbq Food Truck
  
• Baby Blues BBQ
  
• Lil' Pop Shop
  
• Mi pueblito tacos
  
• The Happy Pita
• Hai Street Kitchen
  
• My Four Suns
  
• Nick's Roast Beef
  
• Bonjour Creperie
  
• Li Ping Corn Co
• Pie Stand
  
• Rio Brazilian BBQ Truck
• Pbons Fresh Phood
  
• Rigatoni's Mobile
  
• Smokin' Tacos
  
• Whole Foods Market

As if all that food and beer isn't enough, the festival will feature live music and other entertainment, because it wouldn't be a festival with out music.

The event will feature two stages: the Impala Stage and the Shamba Stage. The Kickbax Band will play the Impala Stage and Hannah Taylor and the Rekardo Lee Trio and River Bones Band will play the Shamba Stage.

DJs Blake Dimauro and Mitch Greenberg will also be spinning tunes throughout the festival.

Lawn games like cornhole, Jenga, and animal charades will entertain attendees, too.

But if those aren't your style and you just want to see the animals, that's doable.

Not all animals will be out however, as these exhibits will close during the festival:

• 8 p.m. – African Plains
• 8:10 p.m. – First Niagara Big Cat Falls, Carnivore Kingdom, Bear Country and Cheetah Run
• 8:20 p.m. – McNeil Avian Center

Animal meet ‘n’ greets are available but vary based on weather and availability. Past experiences include petting a miniature horse and mingling with reptiles, birds of prey and tortoises. Look out for Philadelphia Zoo’s animal ambassadors on the night of the festival.

The festival serves as a fundraiser and supports Philadelphia Zoo in its mission to create joyful discovery and inspire action for animals and habitats and is sponsored by Constellation.

Image via Jim, the Photographer, Flickr Commons