If you need an excuse to spend Saturday afternoon in Broadbeach with a beer in your hand, this might be it. This Saturday, 12 September, Kurrawa Park will host the Gold Coast’s giant craft beer festival, Crafted Festival, which is officially celebrating its 10th year on the Gold Coast.

With up to 5000 people expected at this year’s celebration, the tenth-year celebrations are shaping up to be equal parts delicious and chaotic. The single-day festival, which runs from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm, features more than 30 breweries heading to the park for a full day of beer, food, music, and some decidedly less traditional festival activities.

For the participating breweries, the event comes at an important time. The craft beer industry has been doing it tough, and festivals such as Crafted give independent breweries an opportunity to put their beers directly in front of thousands of drinkers while showcasing what is being made locally.

Festivalgoers can expect beer from breweries across the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, as well as brewers travelling from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, and Western Australia. Among the breweries taking part is Gold Coast brewery Tap That, which is bringing a range of exclusive brews to the festival.

The festival’s 10th anniversary has also produced what is described as the Gold Coast’s most appropriately local beer can: the limited-edition Tom Tate Tinnie, a Surf Lager brewed by Burleigh Brewing. The beer is a tongue-in-cheek nod to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and his famous “the Gold Coast owes me a beer” moment. Mayor Tate himself is getting behind the idea, stating, “In this case, beer lovers can crack open a Tom Tate Tinnie.”

Tom Tate Tinnie, a Surf Lager brewed by Burleigh Brewing.

Music, Barbecue, and Unconventional Excitement

Crafted Festival is not just about beer. Carafe Wine will be serving wine, and Granddad Jack’s will be pouring cocktails and spirits.

On the stage, NSW South Coast rock ‘n’ rollers The Vanns will headline the live music. They will perform alongside Gold Coast acts Selve, Phil and The Blanks, Space & Ages, and Laurel Hill.

Between drinks, attendees have the chance to participate in line dancing, Beer Yoga, and a ping pong competition to stretch, strut, or get weirdly competitive. Food lovers can also experience live barbecue cooking demonstrations at Crafted Smokeshow and hot wing eating competitions.

The anniversary is ultimately about celebrating the community that has grown around the event. As Crafted co-founder Anna Cook explains, “Crafted has always been about bringing people together for great beer, great music and a genuinely good time.”