Back in 1996, a small group of dedicated women came up with an awesome idea… gather dozens of micro-breweries, surround it with music and food and start an annual Micro-Brew Fest as a fundraiser for the Soroptimist International of Bidwell Rancho.

That was 27 years ago. A lot has happened since then including the explosion of the “Micro-Brew” industry, the Covid Pandemic and the growth of our small town of Chico as a whole.

The “Micro-Brew” world has evolved and expanded into a massive beverage industry. When we started this festival back in 1986, Sierra Nevada Beer Company was only 5 years old. As of July 2021, more than 1,100 craft breweries in California alone and, 2022 saw more than 9,500 breweries operating in the United States.

The Soroptimist Bidwell Rancho took a few years off from hosting the event during the Covid Pandemic and this year, 2023 we are back! We are joining forces with Blue Sky Festivals and Events. The 25th Annual Micro Brew Fest … is now the Soroptimist Chico Craft Brew Fest.

This year promises to be a great year for our Chico Craft Brew Fest as we re-launch and celebrate the Soroptimist CRAFT BREW FEST on June 24th, 2023 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. VIP and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m GA General Admission at Manzanita Place, 1705 Manzanita Ave, Chico, CA