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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T140000
DTSTAMP:20260915T022654Z
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SUMMARY:Groton City Brew Run & Food Trucks
DESCRIPTION: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. \nNow 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. \nThe 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. \nFrom a Local 5K to a Groton Tradition\nThe Groton City Brew Run began in 2021 with a fairly simple combination: go for a run and have a beer afterward. \nSix years later\, the event has grown into one of the City of Groton’s signature late-summer gatherings. \nNearly 600 people participated in 2025\, according to the City of Groton\, marking the first time the event surpassed 500 runners and walkers. \nThe location is a significant part of its appeal. \nThe 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. \nRunners and walkers share a single mass start at 11 a.m. \nYou Don’t Have to Run to Join the Brewfest\nDespite the name\, the Groton City Brew Run isn’t limited to runners. \nParticipants 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. \nThe post-race festivities begin at 11:30 a.m.\, when Eastern Point Beach shifts from race course to beer festival. \nThe current 2026 lineup includes 18 breweries\, distilleries and beverage producers\, bringing together a particularly strong collection of Connecticut and Rhode Island names. \nBeer’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. \nThe 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. \nThat mix means the Brew Garden extends beyond conventional craft beer\, with spirits and other beverages represented alongside the breweries. \nBrew Garden admission is restricted to guests 21 and older. \nAcoustic Marshpit Returns to the Beach\nThe music portion of the afternoon belongs to Acoustic Marshpit\, returning after previously performing at the Brew Run two years ago. \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nRather 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. \nA Free Race for Younger Runners\nBefore the main field takes off\, younger runners get a race of their own. \nThe Kids Run begins at 10:30 a.m. and is free for children age 10 and younger. \nPre-registration is required even though there is no entry fee. \nThe 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. \nSupporting The Riverfront Children’s Center\nThis year’s Brew Run benefits The Riverfront Children’s Center\, adding a community fundraising component to the event. \nThe 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. \nThat mission fits an event designed to bring together runners\, walkers\, families\, local businesses and breweries from throughout the region. \nRace Registration and Brew Garden Tickets\nSeveral registration options are available depending on how much of the day visitors want to participate in. \nAs 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. \nThe Kids Run remains free. \nRace-day packet pickup runs from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. \nParticipants 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. \nTech shirts are available to registered 5K runners and walkers while supplies last. \nAn End-of-Summer Party at Eastern Point\nThe combination is an unusual one\, but after six years it has become the identity of the event. \nThe 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. \nPeople 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. \nIn 2025\, William Sanders won the overall race in 15:58\, while Shelly Rivera was the women’s winner in 20:31. \nFor everyone else\, there’s beer waiting at the finish. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 6th Annual Groton City Brew Run\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nLocation: Eastern Point Beach\nAddress: 1 Beach Pond Road\, Groton\, CT 06340\nKids Run: 10:30 a.m.\n5K Run & Walk: 11 a.m.\nBrew Garden\, Music & Food Trucks: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.\nLive Music: Acoustic Marshpit\n5K Run/Walk: $37\n5K + Brew Garden: $49\nBrew Garden Only: $39\nKids Run: Free; pre-registration required\nBrew Garden Age: 21+\nBeneficiary: The Riverfront Children’s Center\nHosts: Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce\, Groton Utilities and Kelley’s Pace\nRace-Day Packet Pickup: 8:30–10:45 a.m. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo register\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/groton-city-brew-run/
LOCATION:Zbierski House\, Eastern Point Beach\, 1 Beach Pond Road\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Zbierski House
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T130000
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UID:10008482-1790427600-1790452800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Pioneer Fundraiser Brings a New IPA\, Live Music and a Community Cause to Outer Light (postponed. new date TBA)
DESCRIPTION:The Pioneer Fundraiser Brings a New IPA\, Live Music and a Community Cause to Outer Light Saturday\, Sept. 26\, as Groton firefighters return to the local brewery for seven hours of beer\, music\, food and family activities benefiting their scholarship fund and other community causes. \nThe annual fundraiser runs from 1 to 8 p.m. at Outer Light Brewing Company on Bridge Street\, and admission is free . \nThis year’s event also comes with its own beer. Outer Light is introducing The Pioneer\, a Juicy IPA created for the fundraiser\, continuing a tradition of pairing the firefighters’ annual event with a special brew. \nA Fundraiser That’s Becoming a Groton Tradition\nThis is the fourth annual Groton Firefighters fundraiser at Outer Light. \nLast year’s event was built around The Can Man\, an Oktoberfest-style beer\, with the same basic idea: turn an afternoon at the brewery into a community fundraiser where people can stay for a beer\, eat\, listen to music and bring the kids rather than simply dropping off a donation. \nFor 2026\, The Pioneer takes over as the event’s signature beer. \nThe brewery and firefighters haven’t published detailed tasting notes for the new Juicy IPA\, leaving one of the day’s discoveries for the first pour. \nMore important is what happens to the money raised. \nOrganizers say 100 percent of fundraiser proceeds will benefit the Groton Firefighters’ Scholarship Fund and other benevolent causes supporting the community. \nThe scholarship fund provides the event with a purpose beyond the brewery. Money raised helps the firefighters put something back into the community they serve\, including supporting students as they continue their education. \nAustin Neal Brings Country and Rock to the Brewery\nLive music comes from Austin Neal\, a singer-songwriter with a musical background that stretches from traditional country into Southern and classic rock. \nNeal grew up in the Ozark foothills of southeast Missouri and started playing guitar as a child\, absorbing the music of Alabama\, George Jones\, Don Williams and Waylon Jennings before adding influences including The Eagles\, The Black Crowes and Jim Croce. \nHe’s also a U.S. Navy veteran who has made Eastern Connecticut home in recent years. \nLocal audiences may recognize him from Mohegan Sun’s Locals Live competition. Neal was one of 12 acts selected for the 2024 competition at the Wolf Den\, advanced through the preliminary round and ultimately finished third in the finals. \nHis performance background also includes opening for country artists including Shenandoah\, Mark Chesnutt\, Craig Campbell\, Shooter Jennings and Neal McCoy. \nThat mix of country roots and rock influences should fit comfortably into an afternoon built around a brewery rather than a formal concert stage. \nTacos\, Raffles\, Games and a Bounce House\nThe fundraiser is designed to work for families as well as people coming specifically for the beer. \nTaqueria Cinco will be on hand serving food\, while the afternoon also includes raffles and prizes\, yard games and a bounce house provided by J&S Bounce House and Beyond. \nOuter Light will have its regular selection of beer and other beverages available in addition to The Pioneer. \nThat gives the event a loose\, drop-in structure. It runs for seven hours\, admission is free and there’s no requirement to arrive at the beginning or stay through the evening. \nCome for lunch and the bounce house with the kids\, stay for Austin Neal and the raffles\, or make the new IPA the excuse for stopping in. \nOuter Light Has Made Fundraising Part of the Taproom\nThe firefighters’ event also fits into a broader pattern at Outer Light. \nThe Groton brewery regularly uses its taproom for community fundraisers and benefit events. Its 2026 calendar alone has included events supporting the United Way’s Tommy Toy Program\, Groton Community Meals\, military and veterans’ programs and people affected by the Ledges fire. \nThe brewery has also collaborated with local organizations on beers tied specifically to Groton history and community events. \nThat makes Saturday’s fundraiser less like a charity event temporarily dropped into a brewery and more like something that has become part of how Outer Light uses the space. \nThis time\, it’s Groton’s firefighters taking over the taproom\, bringing a new beer with them and raising money for what comes next. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: The Pioneer: Annual Groton Firefighters’ Fundraiser\nDate: Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 1–8 p.m.\nVenue: Outer Light Brewing Company\nAddress: 266 Bridge Street\, Unit 1\, Groton\, CT 06340\nAdmission: Free\nSpecial Beer: The Pioneer\, a Juicy IPA\nLive Music: Austin Neal Music\nFood: Taqueria Cinco\nActivities: Raffles and prizes\, yard games and a bounce house from J&S Bounce House and Beyond\nBeneficiary: Groton Firefighters’ Scholarship Fund and other community benevolent causes\nFundraising: Organizers state that 100 percent of proceeds benefit the scholarship fund and other benevolent causes\nFamily Friendly: Yes; children’s activities include a bounce house \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-pioneer-fundraiser-brings-a-new-ipa-live-music-and-a-community-cause-to-outer-light/
LOCATION:Outer Light Brewing Company\, 266 Bridge Street\, Groton\, CT\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Outer Light Brewing
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