Vernon Hills Park District holds annual Craft Beer Festival

The weather was sunny, maybe pitcher perfect if you wanted a pint or pitcher of beer. Instead, glass keepsake tasting glasses were distributed for sampling as part of the paid entry to the 12th annual Craft Beer Festival on June 13 in Vernon Hills at Century Park. The Vernon Hills Park District event drew 100 to 150 people to partake of beer tasting by five vendors with seven more vendors who had dropped off product. Those beverages by remote vendors were poured by BASSET-certified park district personnel. One beer was non-alcoholic. A food truck offered fare for purchase. There was also chilled flavored spring water to stay hydrated in the mild heat. People could also try classic tabletop games from decades ago, brought by a person who specializes in vintage games. Friends and Vernon Hills neighbors Abbie Goodman and Holly Aronoff appeared to enjoy classic games like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, a punching game for two players with a toy heritage to the earlier 1960s. “I love programs like this,” Aronoff said of the beer fest. “It’s a great way for people to get together, it’s casual, it’s affordable.” About the event, “I love it,” Goodman said. “It’s a way to see neighbors you normally don’t get to see. “Today, they have line dancing which I love,” Goodman added. “It’s a chance to get some exercise…and meet new friends.” Line dancing on the lawn was offered by professional dance instructor Carol Tortorice of Wauconda who demonstrated moves to follow from a raised platform stage. Music played back by speakers included country selections but also mainstream pop tunes. Line dancing for all abilities, “is the hottest trend for the last several years,” Tortorice said. “All over the country, everybody is listening to country music and we also have a lot of line dances that are not country. “We’re teaching people how to move their body, feel a part of the community and enjoy themselves,” Tortorice added. Jason Bullman, event organizer and the park district’s recreation program manager, said the Craft Beer Festival is an example of why Lake County is a great place to reside, dine and visit. Bullman, of Grayslake, grew up in Fox Lake and is of the Grant Community High School Class of 1989. “I love it here,” Bullman said about Lake County. “I think it’s a perfect combination of…small towns, you also got things like Gurnee Mills, Great America. “You’ve got your bigger things in Lake County but then on the flipside, you’ve got all these nice, cool, small town areas and they all are doing their festivals, just kind of feeding off each other,” Bullman said. “It’s just really a fun place to live. “But you can also get out into nature because we’ve got tons of forest preserves, you can go biking and hiking and do all the things so it’s like the perfect combination to me of suburban life,” Bullman added. Among vendors on Saturday afternoon was Tangled Roots Brewing Company, originally of Ottawa, Illinois, which has added several locations in the area, including South Barrington, Glenview, and Vernon Hills at Mellody Farm shopping center across from Hawthorn shopping mall along Route 60. Three signature beer varieties were poured by the craft brewery, including its Kit Kupker, an amber ale; Devil’s Paint Box, a West Coast IPA; and Honest Haze, a hazy IPA. Staffing the tent at the Craft Beer Festival included Mike Manley of Ottawa, beer ambassador for Tangled Roots, who advocates buying from small businesses “It’s just like supporting local anything and breweries are no different,” Manley said. “It’s just important to support local.” Jan Rosenberg of Vernon Hills attended the festival as part of a group and started off sampling a lighter beer. To the Vernon Hills Park District, “They offer so much,” Rosenberg said. “This is my third year coming to the craft beer fest. “It’s a lot of fun and they do an amazing job.” For more park district programming, visit https://www.vhparkdistrict.org/.