The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC) will host New Begium Brewing Company's Clips Beer & Film Tour on Friday, June 27 from 8:30-11:30 p.m. at Ah Nab Awen Park, 303 Pearl Street NW. Admission is free.
“[New Belgium selected] 21 cities, so for Grand Rapids to be selected is a pretty big deal because we’re up there with cities like Miami and Seattle and Austin, TX and all these cities that you think of as being progressive and big destination cities that are frankly pretty hip. So it’s nice to be considered in those upper echelon of cities," says Tricia Boot of the GGRBC.
This is the second year the film tour has visited Grand Rapids, and there are plans for the tour to come around again next year as well.
“This is the fifth year for the Clips tour itself, but the second year for visiting Grand Rapids, and they will return for a third year. Typically, they partner with a city for three years. We’re so lucky and excited to have this limited time run," says Boot.
The films featured are all fan made and were submitted to New Belgium over a period of several months. Visitors can expect to see a range of upbeat films from claymation to stop motion to live action.
New Belgium staff will be on hand to pour a variety of craft beers, and guests are encouraged to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages and empty water bottles, as New Belgium will provide water to fill them. Beers on tap will include Yuzu Berlinerweiss, Wild Dubbel, FOCOllaboration IPA, Summer Helles, Snapshot Wheat, Gruit, Gratzer, Coconut Curry Hefeweizen, La Folie, Ranger IPA, 1554, Trippel, Abbey, Blue Paddle, Shift, Rampant Imperial IPA and Fat Tire.
“We encourage people to come out. It’s free, and all the beer and raffle ticket sales go to benefit the Coalition’s Room to Ride campaign," says Boot.
Raffles tickets are available at all four Grand Rapids Bicycle Company locations, Central District Cyclery, Brewery Vivant and Village Bike Shop. Tickets will also be available at the PedalGR group ride at Founders Brewing Co. on Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Guests can also purchase tickets during the event and tickets will be drawn at the end of the evening.
First prize in the raffle drawing is a Fat Tire Cruiser donated by New Belgium Brewing and second prize is a locally built 616 Fabrication Fat Bike.
All proceeds from beer and raffle ticket sales will go to GGRBC.
"Last year, we [received] about 13,000 dollars, which is a very significant donation for a growing organization like ours," she says. "[GGRBC is] a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on bicycle safety and working hard to get more bike lanes in the city."
Boot estimates there were about 1,000 people in attendance for last year's film tour, and she hopes for an even bigger turnout this year.
“We anticipate that it will grow a lot this year just with people being more familiar with it because it’s not a first year event and because Grand Rapids is getting more interested in biking craft beer culture as the months go by," says Boot. "At the end of the day, [we want to] promote a safe cycling community so even if you’re not sure beer is your thing, come try a sample and know that the money you’re spending at this event is going toward making your community a better place to live."
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