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West Michigan's Burning Foot Beer Festival, a beloved event known for its unique beach setting, is changing locations after a decade at Pere Marquette Beach. The festival will now be held at Heritage Landing, located on the shore of Muskegon Lake. Organizers from the Lakeshore Brewers Guild announced this move as a step towards creating a "bigger, better, bolder" experience for attendees.
Festival executive director Greg Moore described the change as "Burning Foot 2.0," noting that the new venue will alleviate logistical challenges faced at the beach and open up new opportunities for growth and creativity. While the festival's core identity as a celebration of art, music, and craft beer will remain intact, the new location will allow for expanded art installations and other features.
Social media coordinator Brendon Enders initially had reservations about leaving the beach but became excited about the possibilities at Heritage Landing. "The beach spirit, the beach vibe, it’s all coming down here with us," Enders said in a video announcement. The festival will also offer camping at Heritage Landing, a first for the venue.
In addition to the location change, the festival plans to reduce ticket prices and online service fees. General admission tickets will return to a $60 base price, with fees capped at $2.65. More details, including the music lineup, will be released earlier than in previous years, and organizers plan to hold a live Q&A session to address attendee questions.
The festival, which featured over 70 breweries from the Great Lakes region last year, will continue to highlight local, regional, and national music acts. The move to Heritage Landing is seen as a positive evolution for the festival, promising an enhanced experience for craft beer enthusiasts.