Event Rules and Regulations
Thank you for your participation in the 14th Annual Winter Beer Dabbler! An event of this magnitude simply would not be possible without the support of loyal partners like you. Our Beer Dabbler website is designed to prepare you for your role at the event, please read it thoroughly prior to Saturday, February 24th, 2024. Should you not find the answer you are looking for; contact us at events@thebeerdabbler.com. Thank you for sharing your time, energy, and talents!
The Details
Exhibitor Passes + Additional Passes
Each participating brewery receives 4 vendor passes to the event. If you would like to purchase additional vendor passes (for staff) or General Admission tickets (for giveaways) for the discounted price of $25/each, please complete this form by Friday, February 16th. All exhibitor passes are claimed on-site at the Vendor Check-In table. You are required to have your pass on you at all times when on event grounds and visible to event staff. If your staff members are splitting shifts with someone, it is their responsibility to make arrangements to transfer their pass to that person. Our staff can hold passes for you at the Exhibitor Check-In table.
Staffing 21+ Only
All staff (attendees, exhibitors, etc.) must be 21+ during show hours, setting up, working, as well as including load-in and load-out hours. No exceptions. Please have a photo ID easily accessible. Children are not allowed during load-in and load-out times or during the event.
Winter Beer Dabbler App
We’re thrilled to offer the Beer Dabbler App again this year! Vendors will have access prior to the event to upload or update your brewery profile and share your beer offerings list for the event. The app will be available in the app stores starting the event week, so our guests can start reviewing the offerings for the event and creating their “to drink” lists.
Staff Attire
The Winter Dabbler is a casual and fun outdoor event in February, which means that all participants will be exposed to the elements, and as with any outdoor winter event, there is a very good chance of cold temperatures, sleet, or snow. Please check the weather and be prepared to dress to accommodate whatever Mother Nature sends our way on Dabbler Day.
Glassware
The only acceptable container for patrons to use will be the Beer Dabbler sampling glass provided at the event entrance. Anyone using any other receptacle should be questioned unless they are wearing a Vendor or Staff Badge. Participants get one souvenir glass at entry. Replacement glasses can be purchased at the front gate for $10.00.
***If you are pouring from a draft system, keep the glass away from the faucet***
Wristbands
Everyone admitted into the event should have a wristband. If a guest is without a wristband they shouldn’t be inside the event footprint. Please politely inquire and feel free to bring staff or security into the situation if you find someone without a wristband.
There will be three colors of wristbands at the event:
● General Admission (G.A.)
● Early Access Ticket Holders (E.A.)
● Designated Drivers (D.D.) This signifies they should not be served alcohol
● Vendors and Dabbler & Friends volunteers
Security
We DO NOT expect you to be the police of this event, there will be police and a security team present at the event. If you see anything requiring attention (fights etc), please find a Beer Dabbler Staff member, uniformed police officer, or security team member to assist. Security and staff reserve the right, at our discretion, to cut individuals off from drinking and/or remove them from the premises without refund or re-entry access, for any reason. Examples of reasons for expulsion: fighting, lewd behavior, stealing, over-consumption, excessive intoxication, damaging festival grounds or property, rudeness, public urination, indecent exposure, not having proper ID, trespassing in unauthorized areas, using a designated driver wristband and sampling even the smallest amount of beer.
Hospitality Trailer
There will be a heated hospitality trailer for brewers, vendors, and volunteers. It will be located on the south side of the Midway (see map above). Throughout the event, there will be pizza, sandwiches, and hot coffee available. Your vendor wristband is required to enter.
Exhibit Space Amenities
Vendors may drive their vehicle to their booth location, but must immediately move to the Vendor Parking after materials are unloaded. To be ready for Early Access Dabblers at 2:00 pm, all setup MUST be completed by 1:30 pm Saturday. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter the Midway after 1:15 pm, and all vehicles need to be cleared from the event space by 1:30 pm.
● BOOTH – Your space will include one 8’ table. There will be a 10’x10’ space where you can hang signage. Most vendors bring a 5’ x 3’ banner for this space but feel free to bring larger if you so choose. Each vendor is responsible for bringing supplies to secure signage and other branding and for retrieving signage at the end of the event. If signage is left at the end of the event, it will be disposed of.
● POWER / HEAT – Power is not provided. Please plan to use propane heaters only. No permit is necessary for propane tanks of 20 lbs or less.
● GENERATORS – You may bring a portable generator, but it needs to be a quiet generator, and must not disrupt nearby booths or the event in general. No loud generators are allowed; if your generator is too loud we will ask you to discontinue its use. You must use 12-3 wires for extension cords.
● LIGHTS – The majority of the event will take place during daylight hours, and we will have street lights and light towers on site, but overcast skies, and being under a tent, might make things darker than you’d like. We recommend that you bring a battery-operated lantern to add light under your tent, as well as to assist your load-out.
● TENTS – You indicated whether you would be bringing your own tent when you signed up. If you are bringing your own tent, for everyone’s safety, tent weights are required.
● TRASH – The event ends at 6:30 pm and we ask that you begin clean-up immediately. Each vendor is responsible for cleaning up and properly disposing of all rubbish, trash, and discarded materials in their respective area(s). Once the event is over and the crowd has cleared, participants may drive their vehicles back to their booth to load up. For safety, it is necessary to wait until the grounds are cleared completely of attendees.
Social Media
Thank you in advance for including #WinterDabbler as part of your social media plan! Consider including the event in any e-blasts or newsletters (http://beerdabbler.com/winter-beer-dabbler), sharing the Facebook event and checking in at the event, use the hashtag #WinterDabbler or tag @BeerDabbler on Twitter or beerdabbler on Instagram- all are immensely helpful!
Event Day Contacts
Event Director…………………………………………………….Jillian Hiscock (507) 469-8137
Site Manager………………………………………………………Steve Madson (612) 298-9830
Brewery/Vendor Check-in……………………………………Jeannie Kenevan (612) 479-6289
Social Media Coordinator………….……………………………..Marina Kallias (701) 818-2305
Load-In, Load-Out, + Timeline
Dabbler Timeline
Friday, February 24th
6:00-9:00 PM – Option pre-event load-in for interested breweries
Saturday, February 25th
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Vendor/Brewer Check-In & Event Set-Up
1:30 PM – All vehicles cleared out of Midway; event footprint secured
2:00 PM – Gates open for Early Access Tickets (E.A.) to enjoy music and start sampling early in the Midway
2:30 PM – Holding area opens for General Admission (G.A.)
3:00 PM – Gates open for General Admission and pouring begins in the Coliseum
6:30 PM – Event ends, tear-down begins
TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR ARRIVAL
– Take into consideration traffic and construction (Click here to map out your commute and plan for traffic!)
– Plan for safe travels if you or your team plan to participate in the sampling. Consider having a Designated Driver (DD), using public transportation or a Lyft/Uber. Guests staying at the DoubleTree in Roseville will also have access to a free shuttle to/from the hotel to the State Fairgrounds and the hotel.
– Send in your completed ST19 form prior to the event or bring a printed copy to check-in. SUPER PRO TIP: If you are planning to participate in other Dabbler events this year, don’t list the specific event name and you’ll only have to complete one form for us per year!
– Download the Beer Dabbler App to view the event map and your booth location. If you already have it downloaded from past Dabblers, just make sure to update it for this year’s details. You can download the app here: iOS, Android
Load-In
Midway Load-In Address: 1789 Como Ave. DO NOT ACCESS THE GROUNDS FROM SNELLING AVE.
Friday, February 24th
● 6:00-9:00 PM – Option pre-event load-in for interested breweries
Saturday, February 25th
● 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Vendor/Brewer Check-In & Event Set-Up
● 1:30 PM – All vehicles cleared out of Midway; event footprint secured
● 2:00 PM – Gates open for Early Access Tickets (E.A.) to enjoy music and start sampling early in the Midway
● 2:30 PM – Holding area opens for General Admission (G.A.)
● 3:00 PM – Gates open for General Admission and pouring begins in the Coliseum
● 6:30 PM – Event ends, tear-down begins
Vendor Check-in is located at the corner of Canfield St. and Judson Ave. (turn off Como Avenue at approximately 1789 Como Ave). Vendors located on the Midway will be able to drive onto the footprint to drop off materials/products, but all vehicles must be out of the footprint by 1:30 pm. Parking is available in the Vendor and Staff Parking north of the Midway. Vehicles may be left in this lot overnight but must be removed by 12:00 pm on Sunday.
Vendors have check-in access on Friday, February 24th from 6-9 pm and Saturday, February 25th from 10 am – 1:15 pm. Keep in mind that a line and wait time are inevitable during the rush period, we appreciate your patience.
To save time, be prepared to follow these steps when you arrive:
1. STAY IN YOUR CAR – WE WILL COME TO YOU.
2. Provide your company name and vendor ticket(s) to be scanned
3. Turn in your signed ST-19 Form ST19 Certificate of Operator Compliance Form (if you didn’t send it in advance)
In exchange, you’ll receive wristbands, glassware, and your booth location. Your booth location and layout are also available in the Beer Dabbler event app. All vendors will be ticketed and need to present their tickets at the time of check-in. Vendors without a ticket will not be granted access to the event however ‘Day of Event’ passes will be available for $25 unless the event has sold out. We highly recommend that you print your tickets as opposed to presenting them from your mobile device.
Load-Out + Clean Up
The event ends at 6:30 pm and we ask that you begin clean-up immediately. Each vendor is responsible for cleaning up and properly disposing of all rubbish, trash, and discarded materials in their respective area(s). Once the event is over and the crowd has cleared, participants may drive their vehicles back to their booth to load up. For safety, it is necessary to wait until the grounds are cleared completely of attendees.