Great Lakes Burning River Fest

This is an über cool event! We bought our tickets online and so visited will call after the free shuttle ride (parking was also free at Edgewater Park). We were excited to try the Steady Rollin Session IPA (brewed for this event) — my IPA lovin’ husband gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up. There were plenty of food options (we picked the Beachcomber) and plenty of places to stand and eat. They gave us compostable silverware and cups, and there were a lot of available receptacles which kept it nice and clean. In the boat house there were food demonstrations, but we missed those as we spent most of our time outside enjoying the sights and music. I’m guessing there were at least 35 porta potties in a very well-​lit area behind the light house. The live music was great! We especially liked Hey Mavis (local Kent band!). We will definitely go back next year– it is great to see these Cleveland revitalization efforts underway. We love this city! 5 stars for the event planners and for this great event!

I loved Burning River Fest for the atmosphere and Christmas Ale alone, and thought it was a very well organized event. This was my first year attending and we had a great time, despite it getting a little rainy. It did seem like they had TOO many volunteers though, and I guess I agree they could have nixed the paper tickets altogether but quite frankly I didn’t even think about that until I read previous reviews. I’m an earth-​hater, I guess. I thought it was very cool that they had a water station to refill cups/​bottles but maybe that was new this year. The music and food were great, and I think the food demonstrations were a good idea but the one we saw was kind of bland. We saw quite a few kids there but I wouldn’t call it a kid-​friendly event — there aren’t really any activities specifically for them. I was worried about the parking situation, but the shuttle buses worked out so well! I’m excited to go back next year. Looking out over the river towards downtown while enjoying a Christmas ale and some local jams… ah. Just loved it.

This is a cool event, but a lot of the criticisms are valid. I love the notion of using Wendy Park better, and seeing inside the old Coast Guard station is a treat. The cooking demos were fun, and the local food vendors were varied and good. Things could be improved, however. The bike parking required some off-​roading, which was tricky on my road bike, and the earth-​friendly activities could be more earth friendly (too many single-​use cups and plates along with superfluous paper tickets). Still a fun event that I’m sure they’ll improve.

Throughout the years Ive seen this fest grow and grow. Great bands and even better beer. Its great to see Clevelanders really gravitate to this now 2-​day fest! The new location (coast guard boathouse) is the perfect backdrop to see our city from a different angle! Hopefully in the future they will have more rock music… we all dont like folk, singer-​songwriters…

BRF has a lovely message and is a good time! It would be nicer if GLBC didn’t charge 5 bucks for 10ish ounces of beer, but what can you do?! There are several cool vendors to chat with and be inspired by. There were some very talented bands as well. The coast guard station is a very cool venue. I recommend this event– but don’t expect not having to spend money!

Despite the flaws mentioned in the other reviews, Burning River Fest is worth attending if you’re interested in beer (specifically Christmas Ale), music, and environmental organizations.
The other reviews made a couple valid criticisms: they don’t let you bring in your own water bottles (although you could have sneaked in your own utensils to eat — haha), forcing you to buy one of their own, costing $ 3 (not sure if they could be refilled and if so, their cost): I just downed my water as I walked in, natch. The beer cups, corn-​based and compostable, weren’t reused. A GLBRF volunteer told me cups aren’t reused because they touch the ends of the beer taps. They did have plenty of recycling and compost bins around the fest. There were very few chairs, I stood without complaint.
As for paper tickets, it may have not been the most environmentally friendly but the system allowed people to get their beer quicker instead of having to make change and ring up credit cards at each purchase. However, there was no signage that I had to get a wristband to buy alcohol once inside the fest.
The lines didn’t detract from my experience. I arrived at 6pm, right when it started, bought my admission ticket in advance and most of my beer tickets and wristband for beer as soon as I arrived, and waited no more than 10 minutes in any line although friends who arrived later had waited a bit longer than that.
Although there were a few families there, I also wouldn’t plan to bring young’uns here. As Steve mentioned, there was not much for kids to do here.
The rain put a damper on the crowd and the overall experience. That being said, it’s still worth attending if you’re interested in hearing some music (mostly generic bluegrass, folk, and traditional country) and enjoying the views of Lake Erie amid friends and other people.

Went with husband last weekend on our weekend trip to CLE. First off, do NOT ask Google to get you to the location. We ended up walking through some projects, an industrial area and steel bridge to end up on the other side of freight tracks and a barbed wire fence from where we needed to be. Google Maps got us to within 20 yards but the last 20 were impossible. Ended up taking a cab to the access road. We were glad we did not drive as the cab got us much closer to the entrance than if we had to park.
Long line to buy admission. Eco friendly festival sold us a paper ticket then took it back at the gate 10 feet away. Long line to get 21+ wristband then ANOTHER long line to purchase beer tickets ($ 5/​beer = 5 tickets — again, not eco friendly) and on the the NEXT long line for beer. Three choices available only — Wright Plus, Burning River and Christmas Ale. In July. With 100% humidity. Okay…
Music was kind of lame. Only one of the stages had chairs so if you go, consider bringing one. Food choices were limited. I love the idea of this festival but it could be much better executed.

Not eco-​friendly for the amount of electricity consumed by the vendors and very loud music stages, plastic cups, plastic silverware, proprietary water bottles, and fuel burned by the shuttles. This event will not permit anyone to bring their own containers, food, etc.
If you plan on bringing a family, be prepared to wait over 90 minutes before you are permitted to drink non– alcoholic beverages, including water. Water bottles are confiscated at the door and the lines are extremely long for their «eco-​friendly» water bottles. Kids get in free, but there is very little for them to do and the music is too loud (mine were terrified at several points.
Lines for beer are long, and the beer is expensive, which brings one to the thought «are the Conways laughing all the way to the bank on this?» Quick math says «yes». The worst part: musician pay was appallingly low. (we interviewed several acts from the Meadow stage and the main stage.)