Sunrise Suds taking over downtown Saturday

ALPENA -- Music will be playing and beer will be flowing in downtown Alpena on Saturday.

Sunrise Suds Tap Takeover is back, from 2 p.m. to midnight on 2nd Avenue from Chisholm to Water Street, which will be blocked off from traffic during the craft beer festival.

After a hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic, this year's outdoor festival will feature craft brews from 20 Michigan breweries, including Austin Brothers Beer Company in Alpena.

The event is held under big tents in front of The Fresh Palate, which is owned by festival organizer Eric Peterson.

He started the festival in 2017 to extend the tourism season and bring the community together in celebration.

Peterson said more distributors will be on hand this year, rather than the beer companies themselves, but the festival will still feature a wide variety of craft beers, music and food vendors.

He explained that staffing shortages and qualms about traveling account for some of the beer company representatives not attending the festival.

"The distributors of these beer companies will be representing them and answering questions," Peterson said.

He said he planned to scale it back a bit this year, but it's shaping up to be just as hopping (pun intended) as in prior years. There will not be a V.I.P. tent this year, but everyone will feel like a V.I.P. for the low entry cost of $15 per person.

"Actually, I went a little bigger, when it comes to music, this year," Peterson said. "We have a huge stage with an LED backdrop so that we can have graphics behind the bands."

Bands include Lipstick Jodi (indie rock) from Grand Rapids, HWT (Half Way There) (reggae) from Pontiac, and Alpena native Brant Losinski's band, Rootstand.

"They'll be closing it up with a bunch of funky, groovy jives," Peterson said of RootStand.

All ages are welcome, but those under 21 will be given wristbands to indicate they are under the drinking age.

"We're happy to be doing it," Peterson said of holding the festival this year. "I'm super excited to have everybody come out."

Alpena native Rich Rider will be this year's live artist at the festival.

Food will be available from Sherwood Pita, Bob's Bullpen, and Freier's Pizzeria.