Frosty the Brewfest winter fundraising event set for Feb. 4
Frosty the Brewfest featuring seven local breweries, a local winery and cidery, comes to downtown Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The winter fundraising event is a four-hour outdoor brewfest and family-friendly community celebration featuring food trucks, special events, contests and live music.
The brewfest came as a result of Bias Brewing co-owner Gabe Mariman pitching the idea of a signature downtown Kalispell event and brewfest to the Kalispell Downtown Association. The intent was to make the event a fundraiser with costs paid for upfront so the entirety of the money raised through tickets would go directly to the nonprofit selected each year, according to organizers.
While winter brewfests are rare in Montana due to frigid temperatures, the time of year selected was intentional.
“Frosty has always been an outdoor fundraising event with the purpose to raise money for nonprofits that deal specifically with aiding the homeless population. We wanted to hold the event outside in the middle of winter in hopes that some of our attendees could imagine what it would be like, even if just for a few hours, to live outside through winter,” said Mariman
Each year a different nonprofit is selected and this year's proceeds will go to the Samaritan House. Past year’s proceeds have gone to the Flathead Community Foundation, The Abby Shelter and the Warming Center respectively. This year in particular is a major milestone for the event because funds raised for local nonprofits will exceed the $100,000 mark in its fourth year.
“This year we feel the call to help more urgently as the housing crisis in the Flathead Valley has only accelerated an already dire situation. Our community is facing a huge homelessness crisis,” said Mariman.
Frosty the Brewfest, sponsored by Kalispell Auto Group will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Valley Bank parking lot in downtown Kalispell. This year the event will feature seven local breweries including a local winery and cidery.
Music by Mike Murray and Friends and Marshall Catch will be on stage in a heated tent. There will be over $2,500 in prizes in the Sportsman Ski Haus’ ‘Kids Dash for Gear’ and Wheaton’s cycle will be hosting the Slow Fatbike Races.
TL Slicks Barber Shop will be judging and handing out the prizes for the annual “Frosty the Beard Contest.”
Tickets are being sold at the following locations: Bias Brewing, Sacred Waters, Sunrift, Montavino, Big Mountain Ciderworks and Tamarack Brewing or online via eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/frosty-the-brewfest-2023-tickets-506740653937