Hey guys, it’s Logan with AVLtoday. I’m typically a behind the scenes guy, but when the team found out my plans for next weekend, they insisted I share. So mark your calendars people; August 10 –12 marks the fourth annual Burning Can Festival.
No, not this…
This.
A hometown gathering
Oskar Blues brewery was started back in 2002 as a small town brew-pub in Lyons, Colorado (right outside of Boulder), but now has locations in Austin, T.X. + right here in WNC.
Many of you have probably visited the Oskar Blues brewery in Brevard, but how much do you know about the Oskar Blues Reeb Ranch in Hendersonville? Part bike park, part mountain oasis, part taproom - the Reeb (that’s “beer” spelled backward) Ranch is home to the annual Burning Can Festival. A clear tip-of-the-cap to the well known Burning Man Festival in the Nevada dessert, but this home-town play will have you spending less time picking sand out of your ears and more time filling them with soultry sounds of bands like Lettuce and The Hip Abduction.
You might be wondering; How much beer would Burning Can can if Burning Can could can beer? So, we decided we’d create an official insiders guide to Burning Can 2018.
Beer 101 (er, 200)
Although the host of Burning Can is Oskar Blues, this fest features 65 breweries from 19 different states, pouring over 200 different beers.
Access to sample all 200 beers (not suggesting you sample all 200, but just saying) is available to weekend pass holders, or for just $25 on top of the Saturday ticket price if you’re just coming for one day. You can checkout the full brewery lineup here.
Camping 101
The Camping Essentials
Aaron (marketing manager at Oskar Blues and Burning Man veteran) essentials:
- Klean Kanteen water bottles
- A Shade Tent
- Headlamp
- Cooler - outside drinks are permitted on the campgrounds but not within the festival. Be sure to pack enough water for the weekend, and remember to leave the glass bottles at home (this is Burning CAN after all).
- Gnarcissist sunglasses
- Astral shoes (all weather! Non-slip)
Logan’s essentials:
- Rain jacket (because as all Ashevillians know, weather is unpredictable this time of year).
- Chacos (you can do everything in these).
- Moisture-wicking shorts + shirt: I personally suggest the ones from Free Fly so you don’t smell like a trashcan after two days without a shower. You can snag them locally here.
- Charging bank (gotta keep the Instagram stories flowing).
- Mountain bike (for the huge mountain bike park).
- Camping pass
Speaking of bikes, if you plan to bring your mountain bike or road bike for the Saturday morning rides, we suggest keeping them locked on your bike rack until you’re ready to ride.
Plus, one of the beauties of Burning Can is that the festival grounds are small enough where you can keep essentials in your car and venture back and forth when you need things (parking is less than 100 yards from the campground).
Where to Buy Gear
Locally, of course.
The Shower Situation
To bathe or not to bathe, that is the question.
It turns out that one of this year’s Burning Can sponsors is Bröö (creator of a craft beer shampoo and conditioner... Yes, you heard that right), who will be providing three showers and samples of their soap line to try.
However, if lines get too long for the showers, there is a creek nearby that will have plenty of cool water for you to freshen up in.
The Food Situation
Listen, snacks are always a good idea for a camping trip, but Aaron has promised “hella good” food trucks (local to WNC, of course), so we trust him. Bring an empty belly and they’ll take care of the rest.
The money situation
Bring it cash – They’ll have an ATM on site but to avoid lines and ATM fees we’d suggest packing your cash ahead of time.
Weekend passes go for $75, Friday passes $35, Saturday beer + music pass $55, Saturday music-only day pass $30.
A shuttle will take you from the Brevard brewery to the festival if you’re taking the day-pass option. 🚘
Alright, you officially have the inside scoop on Burning Can 2018. Be sure to check out their FAQ page here, the schedule of events here, and you can smash this link for ticket info.
We’ll see you out there.
– Logan and the AVLtoday team
