Today’s Noblesville Brewfest to Benefit Our Aquatic Center

Today’s forecast of mostly sunny with a high of 81 F is perfect weather for the Noblesville Brewfest.

It’s perfect weather for enjoying a few brews with friends at Forest Park while jamming to live music, playing a game of cornhole and devouring tasty grub from local food trucks.

And all the while, guests will attend knowing that their tickets and contributions go to help maintain Forest Park Aquatic Center, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2021.

Noblesville Brewfest, in its 12th year, is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Noblesville’s Forest Park, just yards away from the community pool that benefits. Tickets were still available as of press time.

“The Noblesville Brewfest is the Forest Park Aquatic Center’s largest single fundraiser and helps support facility improvements and control increasing costs,” said Noblesville’s Greg Conner, a volunteer and president of the Friends of Central Pool, an organization that operates the aquatic center.

Brewfest has raised more than $500,000 for the pool since its inception, he said. All 100 percent of the funds raised are used to help with the ongoing expenses at the facility.

The Brewfest annually raises about $50,000, from sponsorships, ticket sales and food proceeds, organizers have said in years past. With the current school calendar, students return to classes on or around Aug. 1. “Our organization is challenged each year with offsetting nearly a month of reduced revenue,” Conner said.

But the facility stays open. “We are committed to keeping the facility open through Labor Day each summer and the funds raised by the Noblesville Brewfest help make this possible.”

Brewfest started with about 250 attendees in 2010. The event has grown to more than 1,000 attendees each year.

The event features breweries, wineries and distillers.

All vendors will pour samples as usual. The distilleries and wineries will sell their products by the bottle for off-premise consumption.

What Conner enjoys most is the “coordination and dedication of all the volunteers who are committed to making the event a success so the Aquatic Center benefits.”

He said, “It’s such a great event that directly helps our community.”

Conner has said, “When you think about the thousands and thousands of people that have learned to swim, competed or simply made wonderful memories at the Forest Park Aquatic Center through the years, it really is astonishing.” Conner, who while growing up, was a lifeguard, head guard, assistant manager and director of operations at the pool and is also on the Noblesville Adult Swim Team Inc. (NASTI).

Most who volunteer at the Brewfest are members of NASTI, who “are dedicated to doing what is necessary to keep Forest Park Aquatic Center operating,” he said.

The event requires dozens of volunteers each year to ensure Brewfest’s success. ‘Everything necessary to coordinate the event is a 100 percent volunteer effort,” Conner said.

NASTI, along with the Noblesville Swim Club and Ripfest diving club also spend countless volunteer hours every spring and fall performing opening and closing duties, “volunteer work that save the pool thousands of dollars each year,” he said. “There are literally hundreds of volunteers helping with the spring and fall duties.”

Conner offers five things people need to know when going to Brewfest?

1. Gotta be 21 or older.
2. No smoking.
3. There is a tasting event, not a drink as much as you can event.
4. No pets.
5. You will have fun.

Conner said, “The Noblesville Brewfest is a Noblesville tradition and something so many look forward to each and every year.”

Forest Park is an amazing setting.

He said, “I would encourage anyone who is looking to enjoy a great time while supporting our community to come out to the Noblesville Brewfest.”

Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.