Huge Craft Beer Festival This Weekend in Stratford

Javier Colon, the 2011 winner of NBC’s singing competition “The Voice,” is returning to his hometown of Stratford this weekend to play at a rather frothy event on the grounds of the Shakespeare Theatre.

The ShakesBeer Festival will bring together more than 50 Connecticut craft breweries -- including Two Roads Brewing in Stratford -- for a food, drink and music event on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. Proceeds will go to benefit Stratford's storied Shakespeare Theatre.

“We stand to raise a lot of money (for the theatre's revival),” Ed Goodrich, chairman of the Stratford Arts Commission, told Stratford Patch early last month.

Tickets were $75 but have been marked down to $50 if bought before arriving. They can be purchased in Stratford at Wines Unlimited, 2336 Broadbridge Ave., and Captain’s Keg, 200 E. Main St., as well as online here.

Tickets "at the door" will still be $75, says event organizer Steven Bilodeau. A ticket gets you beer, free food from Vazzy's and Zach's Frozen Yogurt, live entertainment and a complimentary tasting glass with the ShakesBeer Festival logo.

Bilodeau said the goal is to sell 1,500 though so far only a couple hundred have been sold. He said it'd be wise to purchase tickets now as the price at the door is $25 more.