Flannelfest

Downtown Janesville Inc presents Flannelfest, a premier winter beer festival. Featuring craft beer tasting, games, food vendors, and a homebrew competition.

Come join us in celebrating Flannelfest in Downtown Janesville! Enjoy craft and home brew sampling, unlimited games, activities, and music.

 

This outdoor winter event offers sampling of over 40 craft beers and over 50 home brew beers, plus unlimited game play and a commemorative tasting mug on a lanyard. Games include the Lazy Man Run, Axe Throwing, Giant Pong, Putter Ball, Tug-of-War, Giant Jenga, Connect Four, Sack Races, and classic Corn Hole.

VIP admission adds access to a beer tent with snacks and and an exclusive beer sampling, faster check in, and more. Food vendors will be on site (additional cost). 

 

Celebrate responsibly by arranging a designated driver or ride share service if you plan on drinking at the event. Designated Drivers are welcome on the event grounds and can purchase food and soda from the food trucks. No alcohol will be served to anyone without an event wristband.

Be sure to wear your flannel!

*All tickets are not refundable or returnable

BRING YOUR PHOTO I.D. TO THE EVENT – MUST BE 21 TO PARTICIPATE

Flannelfest Annual Cornhole Tournament

 

Test your skills and join your friends in the Annual Flannelfest Cornhole Tournament.

 

Games begin at 1pm

 

SignUp NOW

Welcome 2025 Craft Breweries

 

Welcome 2025 Seltzers

Frequently Asked Questions

Are children allowed?

Respectfully, this is a 21 and over event.

What time is Check-In?

Check-In is open from 11am to 2pm. The event begins at noon. Please be sure to be onsite and checked in by 3pm.

Are pets allowed?

No pets are allowed at the event.

Is there merchandise for sale?

Yes, link to merchandise sales coming soon

Can I buy tickets at the door?

If tickets remain, they will be available for purchase on the site until 3pm the day of the event. We encourage all attendees to purchase tickets online, prior to the event, to make your check-in process as smooth and quick as possible.

I’d like to be a vendor at this event, how do I apply?

Please email info@downtownjanesville.com

What is the carry-in policy?

No carry-in food or beverage allowed

Where do I check-in?

VIP check-in is at The Venue - 37 S. Water Street. GA check-in is at the JP Cullen pavilion in Town Square - 65 S. River Street

Where do I park?

Downtown Janesville offers several public parking lots within walking distance of Town Square.

In addition there is ample on street parking on Main St, Milwaukee St & Court St.

Public Parking Lots

(click a listing below to view a Google Map)

W Milwaukee St/N Jackson St Public Parking Lot

S Franklin & W Milwaukee St Public Parking Lot

City Hall Parking Lot

Dodge St Public Parking Lot

South High Street Public Parking Lot

S Main St Public Parking Lot

Main St/Wall St Public Parking Lot

Parker & Wall Public Parking Garage

E Wall St South Public Parking Lot

E Wall St East Public Parking Lot

E Wall St North Public Parking Lot

W Holmes St Public Parking Lot

JPAC Public Parking Lot

Where do I stay?

Full List of Local Hotels HERE

Uber or Taxi?

We highly recommend our guests attend responsibly by bringing a designated driver or use Uber, Lyft, or a local transportation service.

 

LOCAL ACTIVITIES HAPPENING FRIDAY

 

 Sandwich Bar

54 S Main St

Goodworks Brewing Tap Takeover

4 PM to close

Try the new knockworst "knockle" sandwich

 

Papa Doc's Flannel Friday

401 W Milwaukee St

Wear your flannel and get $5 OFF your throw!

Book a throwing lane HERE

 

drafthouse

101 E Milwaukee St

Tapping of the Flannelfest Lineup

4 PM to close

 

In addition to abundant amounts of beer tastings, you can test your skills with a number of games throughout the day.

Race your friends through the Lazy Man course, compete in the corn-hole tournament, test your accuracy with axe throwing, compare your strength with friends at  hammerschlagen, have fun with giant pong or a friendly game of jousting. 

There’s plenty of fun to be had at Flannelfest!

                            

 

and so much more

Welcome to Flannelfest 2025! 

PLEASE EMAIL QUESTIONS TO THE HOMEBREWER COORDINATOR AT events@downtownjanesville.com

In order to provide the best possible experience for both our attendees and our Home brewers, we have provided some basic guidelines below for each Home brewer intending on entering into this year’s Home brewing competition. 

Each Brewer may enter up to 3 beers into the competition. 

Each brewer will receive 1 free admission for a guest  that will allow them to sample all of the beers at the festival, a commemorative beer stein, and use of all the festival games. Home brewers and their co-brewers will not need a ticket to the event.

Home brewers will in located outside, in the Homebrew Village. Each Brewer with receive lunch and you’ll receive a commemorative item declaring you an official home brewer of Flannelfest. Each brewer is allowed a co-brewer, the co-brewer is entitled to lunch and drinks but not the commemorative item. Co-brewers must be 21.

The competition will award a 1st and 2nd place winner in each beer category and in addition to the individual category awards, an overall Judge's and People's choice award will also be presented at the conclusion of the competition. Judging for this competition will be conducted by selected brewers from various microbreweries and done as a blind competition. 

Event set-up information

********** VERY IMPORTANT************
Home brewer are required to drop off 2 bottles or cans of each beer they plan to enter into the competition by February 20th at 2pm to Farmhouse Brew Supply located at 3000 Milton Ave Suite 109 Janesville, WI 53545. Judging will take place before Flannelfest to ensure all brewers get proper feedback on their beers. 

There should be no discernible markings or labels on any of the bottles.

Cans are acceptable.
*********************************************
Placement of your table at Flannelfast will be based on when you sign up for the competition. You will receive your placement when you check-in.

Home brewers are required to have their respective stations setup at Flannelfest by 11:45am. Any participants who have not setup/shown up by that time will not be eligible for the competition. You will be able to check-in and begin setting up as early as 9am and those that are ready to go will have the opportunity to try their hand at Axe throwing before the event kicks off!

Each home brewer will get half of a 6 foot table. So please be considerate when determining how to set up your distribution space if you bring only 1 beer. 

Home brewers should also expect to bring everything necessary to serve their beers. Flannelfest will be unable to provide competitors with tools, serving equipment, or storage for entries. Please plan accordingly!

We will provide ice for your kegs if needed.

You may sell merch but under no circumstance can you sell alcohol at this event. If you are you will be removed from the competition and event and not allowed back to future Flannelfest events as a brewer. Selling alcohol is illegal without a license and puts our license at risk. 

The Home brew competition will take place outside in The Home brew Village. You will be under 3 sided tents. There is no heat or electricity available. We strongly recommend you plan accordingly.

We are doing a “best dressed tent” award, so have fun with it! Just remember there won’t be electricity. 

Have fun! As festival guests make their way to your table, don’t be shy to talk about your beer! Remember, this event shines the light on YOU, the home brewer. This is a day to give the public a chance to taste your creations! Have fun with the names of your beers and feel free to dress up to fit the day!

 

Meet your 2025 Homebrewers

Mike Aston & Brandon Monat

ASS Blue Ribbon / American Lager
F-Rick'n Brodatious / Hazy IPA
Reba Red / Specialty Fruit Beer

Scott & Jenn Borlick

Border Reiver / Wee Heavy
March Warder / Old Ale

Dakota Bouchard & Jarrod Steele

Bouchard Brown Ale / American style Brown Ale
Cody's Kolsch / German style Kolsch
Once in a Wisco Moon / Belgian style Witbier

Jordan & Elizabeth Brantner

Bridge Builder / American Strong Ale / Imperial Red Ale
Rauchy Der Bär / Bamberg-Style Maerzen Rauchbier

Brian Chesick & Kayla Clark

Lights Out Sweet Stout / Sweet Stout
For the Girls / Spice Beer
Peachy Detonation / Hazy IPA

Ray Conroy &  Steve Glissendorf

Strawberry Rhubard Pie / Fruit Wheat
Pepper Party / Brown Porter

Mark Davis

Lost in the Dark EyePA / American - Style Black Ale
Czech Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself / American - Style Lager
Triple Dog Dare Ya / Belgian - Style Tripel

Douglas Doerr

Gumball Wizard / American IPA
The Fitz / American Porter
Daisy Bitters / Strong Bitters

Ben Dorscheid & Alec Johnson

Oliphaunt/Banoffee Stout / Specialty Beer
Prancing Pony / Farmhouse Ale / American Style Cream Ale

Aaron Eicher & Chloe Christiansen

Cherry Dubbel Bubble / Belgian
Old Faithless / English Porter
Honey Butter / English Barleywine

Bob & Sue Ann Eicher

Willie's Red Rye / Amber Ale
Kiwanis Pond Blonde / SMASH

Chris Frank & Scott Kanter

Azacc Attack / Hazy DIPA
Nutty By Nature / Pastry Stout

Addam Gumble & Chrissy Gillen

Sleeper / American Pale Ale
Boing-e-Boing / Hazy IPA
Ninja Vanish / Black IPA

Todd Haakinson & Shawn Reents

"The Peoples Porter" Porter / Chocolate Porter

John & Michelle Harlan

Harvest Halo / Blonde Ale
Roosters Midnight Cry / American Porter
Hog Haus / Munich Dunkel

Jenny Higgins

Phoole's Errand / Best Bitter

Jim & Jana Jensen

Habanero Apple Ale / Fruit Beer

Black Currant Ale / Fruit Beer

Ellyette Johnson

Warehouse Blend / Golden Ale
Heather's Raspberry Stout / Fruited Beer
Island Bee Bum / Specialty Honey Beer

Jeremy & Katrina Jones

Dark Necessities / Mead
Just to See the Look on Their Face / Mead

Chris & Cameron Kaebisch

Bonzaaaai - Rice Lager with Green Tea
Sundae of the Month / Banana Split Milk Stout
Battle Victorious / American Brown Ale

Chris & Heather Last

Bier Flavored Beer / European Dark Lager
Swinging Cider / Fruited Cider
Bourbon Caramel Apple / Experimental Cider

Christopher Loghry

“Something Something Something Dark Side” / Bourbon Barrel Stout
“From My Trellis To Your Bellies” / American Pale Ale

Jerry Machula

Scottish Beast / Scotch Wee Heavy

Ryan & Chelsea Mielke

Witches Gulch / German Wheat Beer / Dunkles Weissbier
Bark at the Moon / Belgian Ale

Brandon Monat & Tom Finucan

Basic Brew / American Lager

Kurt Osinski & Steve Bloyer

Headstrong / Double IPA
Raspy Cow / Cream ale infused with raspberry
Deer Spit / Brown Ale

Adam Perakis

Happy to be Bock in Flannel / German Bock

Melanie & Matt Pinkston

Hawks Hershey’s Porter / American Porter

Earl Pleyte & Doug Doerr

Copperhead / Experimental Mixed Style Beer
Double Slam Dunkle. Double Munich Dunkle / Strong Ale or Lager
Freckled Heifer / German Kolsch

John Ramsdell

Scorpions Tail Cream Ale / Chili Pepper Beer
Highlander Grog Coffee Stout / Coffee Stout
Hel’s bells lager / Contemporary American Lager

Shawn & Kari Reents

Semi-Sweet Celebrant / Doppelbock

Jonathan Roe

BeeBerry Cider / Specialty Cider

James & Emily Teslow

Hobbit Pils / New Zealand Pilsner
Kiwi Coast IPA / Cold IPA

Todd Walther & Jim Jensen

Campfire Bock / Dopplebock
Fireside Ale / Dark English Mild

Craig Wepprecht

Black Currant Sour / American Fruited Sour

Lawrence White

Carhartt Cream Ale / Cream Ale
Plaid Habit / Scotch Ale
 

Homebrewer Competition Guidelines

• Each entry needs to be at least 5 gallons. 
• Do not over serve patrons, a sample should not be more then 4oz. We are planning to have between 17500-2000 people and will not have enough if full beers are served.
• Register for the number of beers you will be bring currently, we will follow up in early December for the details of your beer/s, at that time please know the category and style of beer to ensure your entry is placed in the correct category and judged accordingly. If you put your beer in the wrong category that is on you.
• You are not allowed to sell alcohol at this event and you will be removed and not allow back if you do so.
• Near the conclusion of the festival, winners in each category will be announced and scoresheets will be made available to the home brewers. This is a blind competition.
• There will be a Judge’s choice prize, the 1st and 2nd place in each style category, and a People’s Choice (this is the only judging that will be done the day of) which the winner will take home the coveted flannel jacket! 

PLEASE EMAIL QUESTIONS TO THE HOMEBREWER COORDINATOR AT events@downtownjanesville.com

Parking Locations

Downtown Janesville offers several public parking lots within walking distance of Town Square. In addition there is ample on street parking on Main St, Milwaukee St & Court St.

Public Parking Lots

(click a listing below to view a Google Map)

W Milwaukee St/N Jackson St Public Parking Lot
S Franklin & W Milwaukee St Public Parking Lot
City Hall Parking Lot
Dodge St Public Parking Lot
South High Street Public Parking Lot
S Main St Public Parking Lot
Main St/Wall St Public Parking Lot
Parker & Wall Public Parking Garage
E Wall St South Public Parking Lot
E Wall St East Public Parking Lot
E Wall St North Public Parking Lot
W Holmes St Public Parking Lot
JPAC Public Parking Lot

 

 

FLANNELFEST EVENT DAY

Event Check-In starts at 11am - 2pm

General Admission located at JP Cullen Pavilion on Festival Street, VIP located inside The Venue

Check-In will CLOSE at 2pm

Event begins at 12pm

VIP lunch inside The Venue from 12pm-1:30pm

Chainsaw Performers from 12pm - 5pm

Complimentary VIP Chair Massage provided by Thrive Massage - 1-4pm (VIP Area ONLY)

Live music by Lazlo Weed - 1-4pm (VIP Area ONLY)

Cornhole Tournament Starts at 1pm

Homebrew Competition Voting closes at 4pm

Homebrew Competition Winners Announced at 4:30pm

Event Closure / Last Call at 5pm

 

After Parties and Downtown Specials

 

808 Cheescake

119 W Milwaukee St

Wear Flannel & get 10% OFF

drafthouse

101 E Milwaukee St

After party celebration from 5pm to close

Wiggy's

9 N Parker Dr

$1 off ALL Premium Taps

 

 

LOCAL ACTIVITIES HAPPENING SUNDAY

 

Whiskey Ranch

24 N Main St

$5 Bloody Mary's 

$4 Mimosas

Wiggy's

9 N Parker Dr

$.50 Wings & $4.50 Bloody Mary's ~ open to noon

⇒ 2025 RETAIL VENDORS

1. Drink Wisconsinbly

2. Downtown Janesville Inc. Merch. Shed

3. United States Army featuring a Hex Bar Challenge

4. Hard Luck - Clothing Apparel

5. Rock County Cocktails

6. Papa Doc's Axe Throwing - FREE Axe Throwing

 

⇒ 2025 FOOD VENDORS

1. State Street Brats

2. Trinity Church

3. Clarks Street Food

4. Ben's Pretzel

5. La Kermes

6. Venenos fiery tacos

7. Smokie Boyz BBQ

8. Donut NV 

9. Leadership Development Academy

10. The Food Truck

11. Sweet Drink Co.

⇒ 2025 Sponsor Booths

1. Blain's Farm & Fleet
   

2. TDS Fiber
   

3. Harris Ace Hardware
   

4. Renewal by Anderson
   

5. Leaf Gutter/Leaf Home
   

Book one of our Partner Hotels for the weekend!

Vacasa - The Guest House

Cozy downtown apartment with full kitchen-centrally located

Sleeps 4

Booking Link & More Details Here

Holiday Inn

10 Room available for $119/room

Booking Link

Cobblestone

10 Rooms available from $149-$159 per night

Call 608-757-2200 & mention Flannelfest for the reduced rate

Available until 2/1/25

Hilton Tru

Booking Link

Hampton Inn

50 Rooms available starting at $119/room

TownePlace

10 Rooms available for $129/room

Booking Link

Must book by Jan. 22nd

Microtel Inn

608-752-3121 - Call for special rate

Quality Inn

608-754-0251 - Call for special rate

Century Elms

Century Elms Website