One of Bloomington-Normal’s most delicious events is back this weekend.
The 20th annual Bruegala will be Friday and Saturday at the Corn Crib in Normal, organized again by the Bloomington-Normal Jaycees. One of the big changes at this year’s charity beer, wine, and music festival is that there will be even more Illinois and Midwestern breweries. The Bruegala team cut out all national and international selections in part so they could increase the number of Illinois breweries from 25 to 40.
“Part of our values for this event is supporting local,” said Gwen Robinson, who is co-chairing Bruegala with her husband, Nick Birky. “So why don’t we spend money for the event in the same way?”
Last year’s Bruegala made $35,000 in profits, with 80% going to charitable partners. The nonprofits that will benefit from the 2019 proceeds are:
- Recycling Furniture for Families
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Pet Central Helps
- Ecology Action Center
The theme for the 20th annual event is “Beer-a-saurus Rex, because this will be a beer festival of Jurassic proportions,” Robinson puts it. So what’s next in 2020?
“We’re gonna be 21 next year. So fully legal to drink then,” she joked.
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