3 Miles. 9 Breweries. 15 Local Bands. And a Whole Lot of Tighty Whities.
BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl to celebrate life in Duluth, benefit young musicians
September 18, 2014 – The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation (FOBMF) will channel the celebratory, community-minded spirit of Germany’s Oktoberfest with an upcoming festival that connects Duluth area music, craft beer, and running communities.
The BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl will take place in Duluth on Sunday, October 5. The event offers participants a unique opportunity to listen to live music and taste 4-ounce samples of local craft beer while traversing a path that links local breweries and beer-centric venues.
Duluth’s burgeoning brewery scene provided the impetus for BradtoberFest. For the first time, all 9 Duluth and North Shore breweries will be united for a single community event. “When we noticed there’s roughly a 5K route connecting all of Duluth’s breweries, we had to do something about it,” says Troy Rogers, FOBMF president. “We’re a music-focused organization, but we appreciate the craft beer aesthetic that is emerging in Duluth. It’s a culture that encourages conscious, active living. It embraces art and music. These are all elements our organization seeks to cultivate in our community.”
Participants can either run or walk the approximately 3-mile route that begins at Bent Paddle Brewing Company, stops at a number of breweries and pubs and finally culminates at the Fitger’s complex courtyard in a finish line celebration featuring food, music, games, and a silent auction. An after party with additional music will follow at the Red Herring Lounge.
Events organized by the Friends of Brad always include elements of humor and absurdity, in keeping with the playful disposition of their namesake, Brad Rozman. Participants can choose to be pied in the face at the finish line and are encouraged to wear costumes and sport “tighty-whities†underwear.
Proceeds will benefit young musicians, supporting programs such as the Duluth Music Resource Center and FOBMF’s scholarship, fellowship, and other charitable programs.
Ticket information and further info:
BradtoberFest Run/Rawk/Crawl
Sunday, October 5
Starting at noon at Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
1912 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN
Registration fee: $25*
Registration includes: a 4 oz. beer sample, live music at each stop and entrance to the Red Herring Lounge after party. Early registrants also get a BradtoberFest t-shirt (limited availability) and can sign up for add-ons like a shuttle from the start to the end point through the Duluth Experience.
Performers: Black River Revue, The Boomchucks, The Brothers Burn Mountain, Mary Bue, Dedric Clark and the Social Animals, Preston Gunderson, Emily Haavik, Adam Herman (of The Slamming Doors), Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling, Hannah Rey, Robot Rickshaw (Troy Rogers walks the robots), Starling of Athens (Toby Thomas Churchill), THUG (Two Harbors Ukulele Group), Tin Can Gin and Tribal Alchemie featuring the Yabobo drummers.
Participating breweries & pubs and major sponsors: Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Blacklist Brewing, Borealis Fermentery, Canal Park Brewing Company, Carmody Irish Pub & Brewery, Castle Danger Brewery, Dubh Linn Irish Pub, The Duluth Experience, Endion Station Public House, Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille, KUMD – 103.3 FM, Lake Superior Brewing Company, the Red Herring Lounge and 7 West Taphouse.
Fun video from the inaugural BradtoberFest Run/Walk/Crawl
***To donate, volunteer or become an event sponsor, please contact info@bradfest.org***
About the Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation
Bradley E. Rozman’s life was tragically cut short in May 2009. The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was created by a group of Brad’s family and close friends to honor his memory. The Foundation celebrates and cultivates young Minnesota musicians through a variety of programs, including BradFest, a music festival. For more information or to contribute to the Foundation, contact info@friendsofbrad.org or visit http://www.friendsofbrad.org.
About Bradley E. Rozman
Brad Rozman discovered a love for drumming at a young age and pursued this passion with vigor for the rest of his life. In the early days, he formed garage bands with his musician friends and led the drum line in the VHS marching band. After high school, he went on to study percussion performance at St. Cloud State University and the University of Illinois-Urbana. When he returned to Minnesota from graduate school, Brad became involved in many music-making endeavors in the Duluth area, most notably as the drummer for the bands High Volt Rustler and Equal Exchange