New township beer festival on tap?

It’s just an idea for now, but a new event could help draw crowds to Towamencin and bring a boost to local organizations.

“Something that’s been pretty popular among fellow townships is doing some sort of beer or wine festival, so we’ve talked about, ‘Would we want to do something like that here in Towamencin?’” said Special Events Coordinator Cortney Marengo.

During the township supervisors’ meeting Wednesday night, Marengo outlined an idea that she and the township’s special events committee have discussed in recent weeks: some sort of large festival offering beer and wine sales, possibly at a township park, and with the conceptual name of ‘Towabeerfest.’ Nearly 60 percent of the township’s residents fall into the 18- to 64-yearold age range, and Marengo said she and the committee have noticed relatively few events for residents of that age, as compared to children and seniors.

“We think a lot of our special events, while they include adults, are definitely family-centered or childcentered, so this would be something new, specifically for adults,” she said.

Attendance levels have started to drop off for annual township events like Towamencin Day, scheduled for May 19, and the annual Turkey Trot 5K scheduled for Nov. 17, so a new beer or wine festival could draw new visitors from out of town, or local residents who don’t know about what is already offered, to help publicize those events, she said.

“As far as logistics go, a beer and wine festival sounds complicated, but it’s actually one of the less complicated events to plan,” said Marengo.

If an event can be put together in 2018, Marengo said, tickets could be given to residents who hold sponsorships for other parks events, and prices could be adjusted accordingly for future years. Similar events in Lansdale, Skippack and Limerick have been successful in recent years, Marengo said, before telling the board she already hears from vendors and musicians asking to set up shop at events the township already holds.

“This would be a great way to showcase a lot of smaller acts, individuals possibly, to get a variety of music — we could give them an opportunity to come out and showcase their talent,” she said.

Setup could be handled by township parks and recreation and public works staff, and board Chairman Chuck Wilson cautioned Marengo to keep in mind possible overtime costs if township staff are needed. Wilson also warned to avoid a possible conflict with a similar brewing-themed night at the township’s Morgan Log House, and Marengo said no fixed date or location have been decided yet.

“I think it’s a good idea, I just think there’s a lot of homework to do,” Wilson said.

Supervisor Laura Smith suggested the Towamencin committee get in touch with the Lansdale Area Fundraising Society, the nonprofit that organizes the Lansdale Beer Tasting Festival

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I would love to see it happen here. I think it might be that you won’t be able to pull it off in 2018,” she said.

Township Manager Rob Ford said current township codes prohibit alcohol being served in any township parks, but a special exception or event approval could be written to allow sales temporarily for a special event. Smith said the Lansdale beer festival relies heavily on volunteers, and uses fencing to keep paying patrons in certain areas, so advice from that group could prove valuable.

“The idea is good. Let’s work on it,” Smith said.

Towamencin’s supervisors next meet at 7:30 p.m. on May 9 at the township administration building, 1090 Troxel Road.