Skagit Cider Fest 2022
The Skagit Cider Fest 2022, a Viva Fundraiser hosted by Farmstrong, was a great success with a sold-out crowd! With over 16 Cideries, live music, tasty food, and sunshine, we couldn’t ask for more!
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Rain Barrel Competition – Farmstrong Brewing
Did you know that beer is 95% water? Skagit Farm to Pint has united water conservation, breweries, art, and Viva Farms altogether to create the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Rain Barrel Project! Skagit PUD donated and delivered the rain barrels to the participating breweries before the beginning of the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow, artists painted the rain barrels, and Viva Farms will be displaying the rain barrels at the Port of Skagit after the Roadshow ends.
Meet Farmstrong Brewing Artist Laura Childs
Laura Childs has been working at Farmstrong for over a year and volunteered her time to work on the rain barrel and contribute to the non-profit Viva Farms. Laura is a Studio Art major at Western Washington University with a focus in mixed media arts which means she has a lot of art interests! “I enjoy drawing, painting, collaging, and most recently I have enjoyed spending my time doing ceramics,” says Laura.
Laura drew inspiration from many authentic aspects of Farmstrong Brewing including the Farmstrong chickens (which always manage to escape the coop) and Farmstrong’s famous Truck Shows. Just last weekend, the Truck Show featured live music during the Skagit Cider Festival which was a fundraiser for Viva Farms.
When owner Todd Owsley asked the team if anyone would be interested in doing the painting, Laura knew this project was meant to be. “I had so much fun designing and painting the water barrel, and I am super excited to see what the other barrels look like,” says Laura.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Pairings
Drumroll please! Announcing the 2022 Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Pairings!
Water, Beer and Art
Did you know that beer is 95% water? We have united water conservation, breweries, art, and the Viva Farms Farm to School program altogether to create the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Rain Barrel Project!
Skagit PUD Donates Rain Barrels
Skagit PUD has donated and delivered the rain barrels to participating breweries, artists are painting the rain barrels, and Viva Farms will be delivering to local school gardens after the Roadshow. The painted rain barrels will be on display all together on a Facebook photo album for you to vote for your favorite.
Rain Barrels
Collecting rainwater is an easy way to conserve water — and save money on your water bill. During the drier season, when water consumption often doubles, using collected rainwater also reduces the strain on the water supply and keeps more water available for fish and wildlife.
Century-Old Solution
Rainwater is also naturally “soft” and free of minerals and chemicals, making it ideal for plants and lawns. Using a rain barrel to collect rainwater also helps reduce stormwater runoff that might otherwise run down storm drains and into our streams, rivers, lakes, and bays. Stormwater runoff can cause flooding, erosion and carry pollutants into our waterways.
Purchasing a Rain Barrel
Skagit PUD sells rain barrels for $60/each that come fully assembled and ready for installation. These are recycled 55-gallon, food-grade plastic barrels. Barrels are not in “perfect” condition and may have a scuff or blemish. Barrels vary in shape and color.
Each rain barrel includes a 3/4 inch spigot, overflow valve, 4-5 inch diameter drain grate, mesh insect/debris screen, and a downspout adapter. Please call (360) 424-7104 to ensure availability. Cash or checks only.
Rain Barrel Math
How much water runs off your roof? To do the calculation, use this formula: .623 gallons per sq ft per inch of rain x Roof sq ft x Inches rain per year.
So, if your roof is 1,000 sq ft and you live in Mount Vernon, which gets 32.7 inches per year, you could expect 20,372 gallons of water running off your roof per year! (.623 gals x 1,000 sq ft x 32.7 inches rain = 20,372 gallons)
During the dry months, May – September, when most people think about gardening outside, you still could potentially collect 5,365 gallons of rainwater off your roof.
Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens Work Together
A wonderful way to complement a rain barrel and increase your property’s ability to absorb runoff is through a rain garden. Rain gardens can be a fun and easy way to learn about beautiful native plants, improve water quality, and reduce flooding.
Rain gardens typically absorb 30% more water than the same size area of lawn; they are drought resistant and are less prone to destructive insects and diseases. Rain gardens create a preferred habitat for birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. These specialty gardens are versatile — they can be any size or shape, but to maximize their benefit, they should be built in an existing low spot or near a rain barrel’s drainage area.
A great resource guide is the Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners. Print copies are available by contacting the Skagit Conservation District at (360) 428-4313.
Skagit Cider Fest After Party Concert
In celebration of the first Skagit Cider Fest, a Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Experience, Farmstrong will be opening their beer garden for a free afterparty concert!
Whatcom County R&B legends BABY CAKES will be blasting 2 hours of incredible live music from the Truck Show stage. With toe-tapping originals and fan-favorite covers, this is one group you do not want to miss!
This concert is for all ages and free to the public for everyone to experience. Jam to the tunes while you enjoy beer and cider (21+) from Farmstrong and food from their Rooted Kitchen!
• Saturday, April 9, 2022
• 5:00 PM 8:00 PM
• Farmstrong Brewing (map)
Baby Cakes will be bringing two hours of funk, rhythm, blues, and rock to the Truck Show stage for a free / all ages / after party for Skagit Cider Fest.
Seating is limited, and outside chairs are welcome!
Tulip Town – A Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow VIP Experience
See the splendor of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival at Tulip Town during the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow! Tulip Town has redesigned the fields for an immersive photography experience, updated its retail and cafe, and a beer & wine garden! Experience Skagit Valley as a Roadshow VIP – purchase a VIP ticket for $85, and you will receive entry to Tulip Town AND a ticket to Skagit Cider Fest!
Skagit Beer Month (ROADSHOW) Trivia Gauntlet
Every Wednesday during the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow in April, head on over to Farmstrong Brewing. Voted editor’s pick for Best Trivia from Alive Magazine, this trivia night is not to be missed. Teams of 2-6 people play every week for a cumulative score and a total of $300 in cash prizes!
Each week will have a raffle prize from a local sponsor just for playing! Teams that play all four weeks will have a cumulative score resulting in CASH PRIZES for the top 3 teams of the month!
The max team size is six participants and seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. There will be four rounds each night with a score potential of 55.
Skagit Cider Fest- A Roadshow VIP Experience
Calling all Cider lovers! Meet the makers, learn about the cider-making process and sample some of the best ciders in Washington.
Viva Farms + Skagit Farm to Pint present
Skagit Cider Fest
Join us in the expansive Farmstrong Brewing beer garden to meet the makers, learn about the cider-making process and sample some of the best cider around, including:
Alma Cider, Bauman’s Cider, Bull Biter Cidery, Dragon’s Head Cidery, Greenbank Cidery, Greenwood Cider, Hammered Dwarf Cider, Locust Cider, Lost Giants Cider Co., Madrone Cellars & Cidery, Misfit Island Cider Company, Ragged & Right Cider Project, Renaissance Orchards, Soundbite Cider, and more.
Play your favorite lawn games, eat great food from Rooted Kitchen, purchase your favorite cider to take home from our festival store, and stay a while longer for an incredible afterparty concert from the legendary Baby Cakes!
SKAGIT FARM TO PINT ROADSHOW VIP TICKETS INCLUDE ENTRY TO THIS EVENT!
Tickets are also sold separately. Stand-alone tickets available HERE.
The sampling event is 21+ for ticketed guests only. The afterparty is at 5 pm and is open to all ages and free to the public up to capacity: rain or Shine.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Cornhole Tournaments
Celebrate spring with the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Cornhole Tournament! Sound Beverage sponsors the Competitive Tournament with $500 cash prizes, and District Brewing sponsors the Social Tournament with $150 in District Brewing gift cards. 192 Brewing provides their vast space for the Tournaments, and Upper Left Cornhole provides their expert organizing and hosting skills! For Tournament participants, show your Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Ticket/Guide and receive a gift card from 192 Brewing!
All of your entry fees go to support the non-profit Viva Farms and its mission to create a more just and resilient local food system.
Two Tournaments – Competitive & Social
Bring your partner and see how you stack up with the competition. Competitive Tournament is experienced teams that get more bags in the hole than on the ground, and the Social Tournament is for backyard players. The entry fee is $50 per team for Competitive and $25 per team for Social when you pre-register. Spots will be available the day of (if not sold out) for $6o per team Competitive and $30 per team for Social. You can prepay for your team thru PayPal upon pre-registering on the Scoreholio app. Accepted on the Tournament day are Cash, Venmo, and CashApp.
All ages and skill levels are welcome. You will play two games to decide preliminary ranking and then go into a Double Elimination bracket for some fantastic cash prizes to the top three teams!
Cash Prizes
Competitive Tournament
- 1st place team: $300 cash
- 2nd place team: $150 cash
- 3rd place team: $50 cash
Social Tournament
- 1st place team: $100 District Brewing gift card
- 2nd place team: $50 District Brewing gift card
- 3rd place team: District Brewing swag
Sign Me Up
Professional quality equipment, including digital scoreboards that allow you to follow and track your results from your phone, will be utilized! Please bring your bags or use ours. Social Tournament starts at noon with check-in from 11–11:30 AM. We will wrap up by 3:30 PM to allow the Competitive Tournament to begin by 4 PM and wrap up before 9 PM. Have a question regarding the Tournaments or need assistance registering? Email: upperleftcornhole@gmail.com.
Pre-register by clicking on the following links from your SmartPhone.
COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT SIGN-UP
Thank you, Sponsors!
Viva Farms to host month-long beer, cider and bounty celebration: Skagit Farm to Pint ROADSHOW
Viva Farms is hosting the 4th Annual Skagit Farm to Pint ROADSHOW, presented by the Port of Skagit, this April. Farming is at the heart of what makes Skagit Valley such a precious place, but that legacy is at risk. In the next 20 years, 70% of all Washington State farmers are expected to retire. Meanwhile, the Puget Sound region has lost 60% of its farmland since 1950. If this trend continues, the last acre of farmland in the region could be bulldozed or paved over by 2053. Viva Farms is aiming to raise $60,000 through Skagit Farm to Pint ROADSHOW to support their work to preserve sustainable farming for future generations.
“Skagit Valley is a special place. Surrounded by natural beauty and rooted in a deep agricultural heritage, Skagit is home to some of the best beer, locally-grown ingredients, and skilled brewers and makers around. We think that’s something worth celebrating!” said Michael Frazier, Viva Farms Executive Director.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow 2022
The ROADSHOW is a month-long local beer, cider and bounty celebration held at breweries around Skagit Valley featuring craft beers brewed with Skagit Valley Malt and delicious bites highlighting local and handcrafted ingredients. Join other local beer, cider and food enthusiasts, as you enjoy exclusive beer and bite pairings on a self-guided brewery adventure. Participants can also join in the fun of a homebrewer’s competition; cornhole and trivia tournaments; or become a VIP to create a truly magic Skagit experience.
2022 Ale Trail Pale Ale Homebrew Competition
The homebrewers competition gave homebrewers eight weeks to create a pale ale using Skagit Valley Malting Pilot Pale malt. Skagit Valley College’s Cardinal Craft Brewing Academy will brew the winner’s beer which will be featured at Anacortes Brewing during the ROADSHOW. Prizes include a $100 gift certificate to Northwest Brewers Supply will provide gift certificates for winners: 1st: $100, 2nd: $50 and 3rd: $25.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Games & Prizes
Every Wednesday during April, head on over to Farmstrong Brewing for the Skagit Beer Month (ROADSHOW) Trivia Gauntlet. Voted editor’s pick for Best Trivia from Bellingham Alive Magazine, this trivia night is not to be missed. Teams of 2-6 people play every week for a cumulative score with CASH PRIZES for the top 3 teams, and raffle prizes each week!
On April 23rd, join our friends at UpperLeft Cornhole at 192 Brewing in Mount Vernon for the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Cornhole Tournament for all skill levels. Sign up for the competitive division for a chance to win up to $300 in CASH, or just play for fun by entering the social division for a chance to win cool, local goodies.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow VIP Experience
Looking to elevate your adventure? Celebrate Skagit Valley’s agricultural bounty in style by becoming a ROADSHOW VIP. Get complimentary tickets to explore the legendary acres of vibrant floral color at Northwest’s premier tulip farm, Tulip Town. AND get complimentary tickets to the first-ever Skagit Cider Fest held in the expansive Farmstrong Brewing beer garden. This event lets cider-lovers meet the makers, learn about the cider-making process and sample the craft of over 15 PNW cideries. And stick around for the Skagit Cider Fest Afterparty featuring Whatcom County R&B legends, BABY CAKES! Skagit Cider Fest tickets will also be sold separately.
Water, Beer & Art
Did you know that beer is 95% water? We have united water conservation, breweries, art, and the Viva Farms Farm to School program altogether to create the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Rain Barrel Project! Skagit PUD has donated and delivered the rain barrels to participating breweries, artists are painting the rain barrels, and Viva Farms will be delivering to local school gardens after the Roadshow. The painted rain barrels will be on display all together on a Facebook photo album for you to vote for your favorite.
Long Live Farms!
All proceeds from Skagit Farm to Pint ROADSHOW go to benefit Viva Farms. Viva Farms is a bilingual (Spanish-English) farm business incubator and beginning farmer training organization based in Burlington, WA with a mission to create a more resilient and just local food system. They teach beginning farmers sustainable farming practices and farm business management, and provide access to land, training, equipment, infrastructure, markets and capital. Learn more about Viva Farms mission and how you can support here.
Tickets, starting at $55, are on sale 2/22/22 here.
Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow Sponsors
Port of Skagit
KISM
Skagit Valley Malting
Farmstrong Brewing
Country Financial
Sound Beverage Distributors
Tulip Town
Central Welding
McGregor Benefits
Northwest Farm Credit Services
Stowe’s shoes & clothing
Skagit PUD
NorthWest Brewers Supply