Tapped - Downtown Midland's Craft Beer Festival

03/20/2023

To the Tapped Community:

In the coming days, Downtown Midland will release its 2023 events calendar detailing the many awesome activities and special events you can expect this year. You'll notice that one event you have come to expect will not be on that calendar this year: Tapped. After seven years of fond memories, great times, and a whole lot of beer, we have decided to retire the Tapped Craft Beer Festival effective this year.

When Tapped was created in 2015, the original goal was simple: Generate support for Downtown Midland businesses by bringing lots of people to the district while providing an awesome event and fun atmosphere. However, if you've been with us since that first Tapped, you've probably noticed that this event has changed dramatically over the years to adapt to many external shifts and challenges. New locations, new rules, a global pandemic, staffing needs, and changing trends in the craft beer industry have all thrown us curveballs as we put our blood, sweat, and tears into creating a great event that our community and our Downtown deserve. That got us thinking.

As we planned for the 2023 events calendar, we took an honest and thoughtful look at all events we've done previously and ideas for new ones we'd like to create this year. The reality of Tapped's future hit us hard: The many months of planning and significant staff resources needed to execute a festival of this size is unrealistic for us. The craft beer industry has changed significantly, making it very difficult for us to get kegs of product for the event. Hosting a craft beer festival called 'Tapped' featuring products served primarily from individual cans, bottles, and packages *is* a little awkward. Changes to State laws allowed us to create The Commons Refreshment Area and expand the boundaries for consuming adult beverages downtown. These realities led us to the decision that it was time for Tapped to retire.

Downtown Midland is still committed to providing unique events and experiences for all ages, and 2023 will be no different: Boo Bash, Taste of Downtown, Main Street Glow, The Commons Live Music Series, and the return of the beloved Commons Pedestrian Plazas are just a few of the previous events on the agenda for what we believe will be the best year ever in Downtown Midland. Wait 'til you see the *new* stuff we have planned! We can't wait for you to experience it with us.

07/27/2022

📣 TAPPED ATTENDEES! We need your help! 📊

We want to continue to improve this event for the years to come! We can't do that without your help and honest feedback. If you attended this year's festival, please take 7 minutes to complete our short survey. All input will be evaluated and considered. Thank you!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

06/27/2022

To make Tapped happen every year, it takes a lot of awesome vendors and generous sponsors. One of those, wearing both hats, is Red Threads! They have been such a great partner over the years and our volunteers/staff wouldn't be half as stylish without them! Thanks for doing our t-shirts once again and supporting Tapped!

06/20/2022

An evening full of chilled craft beer, ciders, seltzers, wines, canned cocktails, live music, delicious food, outdoor games, and good times🍻 We hope you all had a great evening at our parking garage party🥳

Thank you doesn’t even justify how grateful the Tapped committee and staff are for all of the amazing attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors who made this event possible! This year was the most successful Tapped in 7 years! All proceeds from this event go into funding Midland Downtown Business Association events - that’s what makes this event so special and unique from other festivals.

Another special thank you to the Midland Parks and Recreation crew for power washing every corner of the garage to prep it for our event, as well as helping with the heavy lifting during setup/teardown. Last but not least, thanks to the Midland Police Department Michigan for your help and service during the event!

Cheers to another year in the books🥂

06/19/2022

And to all a good night🍻

06/18/2022

We are SOLD OUT! We will not be selling any tickets at the door🍻 Looking forward to a great event!

06/18/2022

Hey craft beer lovers🍻 We are about to SELL OUT!!! A very limited amount of tickets are still available. Get them while you can - we mean it! http://tapped.eventbrite.com

Excited to see everyone tonight!🍹🥳

06/17/2022

Tapped Is Almost Here!

Thank you to everyone who is attending this year’s Tapped – Downtown Midland Craft Beer Festival! We are back and better than ever. With the event quickly approaching, here are some details to keep in mind for this year, as things have changed from previous years.

New Location🚗
Tapped will be located in the Larkin Parking Garage of Downtown Midland. Why you might ask? First, The Commons Pedestrian Plaza has taken over Main Street where Tapped traditionally had been. Second, this move allows us hold the event in the chance of inclement weather. It also provides a cool, unique atmosphere if you ask us!

Public parking can be found in any public parking lot (besides the garage) in Downtown Midland. A map can be found at: https://downtownmidland.com/map/

New Event Setup🍹
This year’s drink offerings will be categorized based on the brewery - each one will have their own table. There are three brewery concourses throughout the parking garage. The top floor of the parking garage will have lounge areas, outdoor games, live music by Brett Mitchell & the Mitchfits, and four food vendors. Check out https://tappedbeerfest.com/samples/ for more information and a full list of more than 130 available options.

Event Main Entrance🎫
The most important part of this event is how to get into it. The main and only entrance to the event will be near the corner of Larkin & Townsend St. If you have purchased your tickets in advance, please proceed to the “Check-In” line when you arrive. Day-of sales, if available, will funnel into the “Purchase Tickets” line on the corner of Rodd & Larkin St. Make sure to bring your ID, as we will ask for it before entry.

Extra Drink Ticket Sales🎫
If you are browsing the drink samples section of the website and having a hard time deciding which six to sample, do not fear! Extra drink sample punch cards can be purchased at the event on both brewery floors of the parking garage. Punches are 3/$5.00. These sales are CASH ONLY, so please plan accordingly. If you need an ATM nearby, there is one at Huntington Bank on the corner of Townsend & E. Main St. After 7 p.m., leftover Tapped t-shirts and tasting glass koozies will also be available at the extra drink ticket stands. T-shirts are $15 each and koozies are $5 each. These sales are also cash only.

Tapped After Party in Downtown Midland🥳
The party doesn't stop when the garage closes! Head over to Downtown Midland's Pedestrian Plaza Stage in the intersection of McDonald & Main St. to enjoy more live music and good times! The PBR Band will be entertaining the public for free until 11 p.m.

We are so ‘hoppy’ to be back and better than ever! See you in 24 hours! 🍻

06/17/2022

The beer is here, say cheers🍻

Our beverage list is officially FINALIZED! The parking garage will be split into three brewery concourses. Each brewery has their own table. So, if you’re a fan of a certain brewery, you can find their product very easily! Check out our 130+ drink sample options for tomorrow at https://tappedbeerfest.com/samples/.

A very limited amount of tickets are still available. We anticipate on selling out! Get your tickets now http://tapped.eventbrite.com.

Which one are you most excited to try?🥳

06/17/2022

ONE MORE DAY!

This year's event would not be possible without the support of all of our amazing community sponsors! Tapped is the largest event that Downtown Midland hosts. Because of its massive size, it takes a huge amount of funds. Every single proceed from this event goes into funding all of the free community events that the Midland Downtown Business Association hosts! We were able to raise a total of $20,000 in total sponsorship support this year, which is incredible! We cannot thank all of our sponsors enough. Please make sure to visit these businesses when you can, or, follow them on social media!

Presenting Sponsor: Midland Sports Rehab

Supporting Sponsors:
Midland Ford Lincoln Inc.
Tri-Star Trust
Trinseo
MiBrew Trail

Event Sponsors:
Allied Group Fitness
Horizon Bank
Independent Bank
Members First Credit Union
Molasses Smokehouse and Bar
Pizza Sam’s
Red Threads
Smith's Flowers
Three Bridges Distillery and Taproom
Three Rivers Corporation
WhichCraft Taproom
Wildfire Credit Union

06/16/2022

Last but certainly not last, we would like to thank one of our supporting sponsors this year, MiBrew Trail! MiBrew Trail is an immersive and exciting site developed to help you find and navigate breweries as you are traveling & planning throughout Michigan. With an interactive map and content for everyone, MiBrew Trail is a great utility for Craft Brew Lovers! 🍻

If you are new to this whole craft beer thing - or you just want to help keep your stouts straight from your porters - check out this handy guide they have put together to prep for Saturday: https://www.mibrewtrail.com/beer-terms/.

06/16/2022

Saturday is full of live music! 🥳 We are excited to have Brett Mitchell & the Mitchfits this year as our musical guest throughout the event! And guess what? The party doesn't stop when the garage closes at 9 p.m.! Head over to Downtown Midland's Pedestrian Plaza Stage in the intersection of McDonald & Main St. to enjoy more live music and good times! PBR Band will be entertaining the public for free until 11 p.m. 🎶