Groton City Brew Run
Groton City Brew Run returns to Eastern Point Beach on Saturday, September 12, combining a waterfront 5K run and walk with a post-race beer garden, live music, food trucks, and craft beverages from breweries and producers across Southern New England.
Now in its sixth year, the event begins with a free kids run at 10:30 a.m., followed by the 5K run and walk at 11 a.m. The Brew Garden opens at 11:30 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m., with Acoustic Marshpit returning to provide live music.
The 2026 Brew Run benefits The Riverfront Children’s Center and is hosted by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Groton Utilities and Kelley’s Pace.
From a Local 5K to a Groton Tradition
The Groton City Brew Run began in 2021 with a fairly simple combination: go for a run and have a beer afterward.
Six years later, the event has grown into one of the City of Groton’s signature late-summer gatherings.
Nearly 600 people participated in 2025, according to the City of Groton, marking the first time the event surpassed 500 runners and walkers.
The location is a significant part of its appeal.
The race starts and finishes at Eastern Point Beach, where the Thames River meets Long Island Sound. With Shore Avenue reopened following two years of construction, organizers say the 2026 course returns to a scenic finish with water views.
Runners and walkers share a single mass start at 11 a.m.
You Don’t Have to Run to Join the Brewfest
Despite the name, the Groton City Brew Run isn’t limited to runners.
Participants can register for the 5K run or walk, combine the race with admission to the Brew Garden, or skip the race entirely and purchase Brew Garden admission.
The post-race festivities begin at 11:30 a.m., when Eastern Point Beach shifts from race course to beer festival.
The current 2026 lineup includes 18 breweries, distilleries and beverage producers, bringing together a particularly strong collection of Connecticut and Rhode Island names.
Beer’d Brewing Company, which operates The Silo in Groton and The Mill in Stonington, is among the participating breweries. Groton’s Outer Light Brewing Company is also represented.
The larger lineup includes Athletic Brewing Company, B-Sharp Brewing, Barn Brew Co., Back East Brewing, BAD SONS Brewing, Creature Brewing Company, Grey Sail Brewing, Levine Distributing, Litchfield Distillery, Owl’s Brew, Schooner’s Beverages, Tapped Apple, These Guys Brewing, Two Roads Brewing, Waypoint Spirits and Whalers Brewing Company.
That mix means the Brew Garden extends beyond conventional craft beer, with spirits and other beverages represented alongside the breweries.
Brew Garden admission is restricted to guests 21 and older.
Acoustic Marshpit Returns to the Beach
The music portion of the afternoon belongs to Acoustic Marshpit, returning after previously performing at the Brew Run two years ago.
The acoustic act provides the soundtrack once the race gives way to the post-run celebration, with music continuing alongside the Brew Garden and food trucks.
The City of Groton specifically cited the group’s previous Brew Run appearance in announcing its return for 2026, describing a performance that kept the post-race party moving.
Rather than treating the music as a separate concert, the Brew Run builds it into the larger beach gathering. Runners can finish their 5K, grab something to eat and spend the remainder of the afternoon at Eastern Point Beach without needing to head elsewhere.
A Free Race for Younger Runners
Before the main field takes off, younger runners get a race of their own.
The Kids Run begins at 10:30 a.m. and is free for children age 10 and younger.
Pre-registration is required even though there is no entry fee.
The Kids Run, food and live music also give families something to do beyond the adult Brew Garden, making the larger event more than a beer festival attached to a road race.
Supporting The Riverfront Children’s Center
This year’s Brew Run benefits The Riverfront Children’s Center, adding a community fundraising component to the event.
The Groton nonprofit has served children and families in southeastern Connecticut for decades, providing early childhood education and care with an emphasis on making quality programs available to families across different income levels.
That mission fits an event designed to bring together runners, walkers, families, local businesses and breweries from throughout the region.
Race Registration and Brew Garden Tickets
Several registration options are available depending on how much of the day visitors want to participate in.
As of the current registration period, the 5K run or walk is $37, while the combined 5K and Brew Garden package is $49. Brew Garden admission without participating in the race is $39.
The Kids Run remains free.
Race-day packet pickup runs from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Participants can also avoid the race-morning pickup line by collecting their bib and shirt in advance at the City of Groton Municipal Building, 295 Meridian Street. Early packet pickup is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, and Friday, September 11, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Tech shirts are available to registered 5K runners and walkers while supplies last.
An End-of-Summer Party at Eastern Point
The combination is an unusual one, but after six years it has become the identity of the event.
The morning starts with running shoes and a starting line. A half-hour after the 5K begins, taps start pouring, food trucks are serving and live music takes over the beach.
People who have no interest in running can simply come for the Brew Garden. Families can bring younger children for their own race. Serious runners can treat it as a competitive 5K.
In 2025, William Sanders won the overall race in 15:58, while Shelly Rivera was the women’s winner in 20:31.
For everyone else, there’s beer waiting at the finish.
Event Details
Event: 6th Annual Groton City Brew Run
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Location: Eastern Point Beach
Address: 1 Beach Pond Road, Groton, CT 06340
Kids Run: 10:30 a.m.
5K Run & Walk: 11 a.m.
Brew Garden, Music & Food Trucks: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Live Music: Acoustic Marshpit
5K Run/Walk: $37
5K + Brew Garden: $49
Brew Garden Only: $39
Kids Run: Free; pre-registration required
Brew Garden Age: 21+
Beneficiary: The Riverfront Children’s Center
Hosts: Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Groton Utilities and Kelley’s Pace
Race-Day Packet Pickup: 8:30–10:45 a.m.
More information is available at the Event Website link below.
To register, click the Event Ticketing link below.
Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.