The 19th Annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
Presented by The Vera Project
is back at the Seattle Center this September 29th & 30th!
The 19th Annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival presented by The Vera Project is happening at the Seattle Center!
2023 marks the 19th year for the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival and 100% of the proceeds will benefit THE VERA PROJECT!
We invite you to join us at the Seattle Center, where 80+ pumpkin and seasonal beers (plus a couple of surprises) from near and far will be poured, including twenty or so from Elysian Brewing’s pumpkin-crazed brewers.
For those who haven’t been to GPBF – during each session, we have a giant, several-hundred-pound pumpkin that is scooped, scorched, filled with pumpkin beer, sealed, conditioned, and then tapped at the fest for all to enjoy.
Beyond the beers, you can expect a costume contest, music, local food trucks, a pumpkin carving station, a pie eating contest, and so much more. Tickets sell out every year, so buy yours before they disappear!
Tickets on sale here!
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FAQ
When is the festival?
Friday, Sept 29th, 2023: 4 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, Sept 30th, 2023: 4 PM – 10 PM
Where is the festival?
Seattle Center: 305 Harrison Street Seattle, WA 98109
Where do the proceeds from GPBF go?
100% of proceeds are donated to The Vera Project.
Is GPBF 21+ or all ages?
GPBF has always been and always will be 21+ only.
Can I bring my dog/cat/baby/alien/anything else other than a 21+ human-person?
We’re all about the crew you roll with but to keep the festival safe & fun for everyone, only 21+ humans are allowed in.
What happens if it rains?
Anyone remember the infamous downpour of the 2016 GPBF? This is Seattle. This event is on rain, shine, fog, haze, you name it. We’ve got plenty of indoor and covered areas if you need some shelter.
Where can I purchase tickets?
You can get tickets to GPBF exclusively online here.
How much are tickets?
- Single Day Tickets: $30 + fees
- Two Day Tickets: $50 + fees
- Single Day DD Tickets: $5 + fees
Will there be tickets available at the door during the event?
Nope. You snooze, you lose. We’ve been known to sell out in advance every year.
Are there VIP tickets?
Nah. All are equal in our books.
What do I get with my ticket?
6 beer tickets. a 2023 GPBF goblet, and access to all the pumpkin madness you’ve come to expect from GPBF.
Can I get more than 6 drink tickets?
Yep, you sure can. Additional drink tickets will be sold at the festival for $2 each. We’ll have beer ticket purchase outlets scattered around the festival. We will be accepting CARD ONLY for additional beer ticket purchases.
I heard you had a two day pass?
Two days of absolute pumpkin-madness is not for the faint of heart. But, for those brave enough, we have a limited quantity available. You can only purchase two day tickets through pre-sale online – $50 Two Day Pass. First come, first serve.
What about DDs?
RAD! We stand for getting home safe. Kudos to all DDs. There will be a limited amount of $5 designated driver tickets available. If you enter as a designated driver, you cannot drink at the festival. Don’t make us kick you out.
$5 DD = entrance only, no drink tickets or glassware included.
We’ll be handing out free Odd Water Sparking Hop Water at the event. And non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the food trucks.
What if I lose my ticket?
Reach out to info@theveraproject.org or support@boldtypetickets.com.
I can’t attend anymore. Can I get a ticket refund?
Unfortunately, ticket refunds are not an option. But hey, why not spread the GPBF love and find a friend or family member who would be thrilled to take your ticket? You can send them the ticket QR code.
Is it safe to purchase resold tickets?
We don’t recommend buying tickets from anyone you don’t know. There are a lot of scammers out there. The Vera Project won’t be able to issue you a refund if you’ve been duped. We highly encourage purchasing tickets only through our official ticketing site.
What’s this whole ORANGE / COSTUME thing?
The theme is ORANGE and what this means is totally up to you. Join the revelry of pumpkin worshippers and embrace the theme for your fest attire. It also wouldn’t be GBPF if we didn’t host a contest for “best dressed” and crowned pumpkin royalty. If you’re stuck, check out #GPBF on social for some inspo.
How do I win the costume contest?
First, come to the fest dressed up. Once you arrive, it’s a swirly mixed of getting plucked from the crowd because your costume is so amazing and you’ll be asked to come onstage with a handful of other pumpkin contest participants. If you’ve made it to the stage THEN you must win the favor of an insane panel of judges, who are predictably unpredictable, as always. Believe us, people go all out in this contest, so if you’re in it to win it, bring it.
What do I get if I win the costume contest?
Absolute glory and you’ll be crowned the 2023 reigning pumpkin royalty. If this isn’t enough, there’s sick prize packs. Don’t forget we don’t just crown 1st place, but award 2nd and 3rd place too.
What beers will be there?
A mix of over 100 badass pumpkin, seasonal, fresh hop brews, and cider. Lots of Washington representation but expect pours from around the country.
Who are the participating breweries?
Our team is working to curate this list with some of the best pumpkin and fresh hop brewers, and cider makers out there! Stay tuned. Closer to the event, we’ll release a list of the participating breweries and pours that will be available.
Will there be food?
We wouldn’t throw a party without munchies. There will be local food trucks slinging delicious grub throughout the entirety of the festival.
Can I bring snacks from home? I make this amazing…
We’re good. Keep it at home. We won’t allow in outside food or drink.
What about water?
Free bottled water and Odd Water Sparkling Hop Water will be available.
Will there be music?
This isn’t GPBF if there weren’t wicked tracks to go alongside the festivities. There will be continuous sessions provided by a couple of local DJs throughout the event.
What is the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off (GPWO)?
The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off is an official, sanctioned event by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC), and will include growers and their giant pumpkins from around the region. It is an all ages event where growers compete to see who has the biggest pumpkin! From the weigh-off, we take some of the largest pumpkins to hollow out, scorch, seal, fill with pumpkin beer, and tap at the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival. It’s a continuous cycle of pumpkin.
When is the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off?
The GPWO is happening the weekend prior to GPBF, on Saturday, September 23rd from 12 PM – 4 PM at 5510 Airport Way S at the Elysian Airport Way Brewery in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.
Is there an event hashtag?
Make sure to follow the #GPBF hashtag and use it when you’re at the event. We love checking in to see how your pumpkin experience was.
STILL LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER?
If you don’t see an answer to what you’re looking for, please email info@theveraproject.org and include GPBF in the subject line.