Popular Hops and Crops Music and Beer Festival returns to the farm Saturday

Visit the chickens and cows, stroll the farmhouse and barn, take in the scenery.

Yep, a visit to Auburn’s historic Mary Olson Farm on Green River Road is a must-do all by itself.

But here’s something else: on one day of the year only, and only for six hours at that, can you go there, sip beer, eat goodies and groove to great, live music.

The event is the eighth go-round of the Hops and Crops Music and Beer Festival, which slips into sip and sound from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the farm east of the Auburn Municipal Golf Course at 28728 Green River Road SE.

“People should mark their calendars because it’s going to a beautiful weekend at our idyllic, historic farm,” said Rachael McAlister, curator of education and events at the White River Valley Museum.

Thirteen breweries will be on tap for the occasion with more than 30 beers to sample. Making their first appearance at this year’s shindig are Scamp, a brewery that opened in Auburn this past spring, and Half Lion, a Sumner brewery that graces many of its beers with historic names recognizable to Auburn folk.

Rounding out the brew crew will be Airways Brewing, Bad Jimmy’s Brewing, Big Horn Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Flying Lion Brewing, Fremont Brewing , Georgetown Brewing, Hop Valley Brewing, Iron Horse Brewing, Lantern Brewing and Schilling Cider.

For obvious reasons, a body must be 21 years or older to get in.

Down North, The Georgetown Orbits, Bootleg Sunshine and The Cottonwood Cutups will supply the music, and Stella Fiore Wood Fired Pizza, Tacos La Flaca and Hot Revolution Donuts will hold down the snack end of things.

And while the music is playing and the brew is flowing, critters of all sorts, among them, Pip and Stinger, a pair of sociable, fuzzy, photogenic donkeys, will make their appearance.

“We have many donkeys at the farm, and we like to bring our animals out to visit at the festival, so Pip and Stinger have been trying on outfits for the occasion,” McAllister said. “They’ve got their festival gear ready and will be happy to take Instagram posts with patrons.”

Tickets are $20 at the gate, which includes a taster mug and five tokens. The cost is $10 per designated driver at the gate only, with no taste admission available. All proceeds from the event support educational programming at the farm.

A shuttle runs all day from the parking lot north of the farm to the site, though some patrons may prefer to hoof it in from the aforesaid lot along a 1/8-of-a-mile long trail through the woods.

“Last year just under 700 patrons showed up, and right now we have the largest pre-sale we’ve ever had,” McAlister said.

Leashed dogs are welcome.

Reber Ranch is sponsoring the event.

For more information, visit wrvmuseum.org.

AT A GLANCE

Bands:

The Cottonwood Cutups – 1 p.m.

Bootleg Sunshine – 2:15 p.m.

The Georgetown Orbits – 3:30 p.m.

Down North – 4:45 p.m.

Beers: Airways Brewing; Bad Jimmy’s Brewing; Elysian Brewing Company; Flying Lion Brewing; Fremont Brewing; Georgetown Brewing Company; Half Lion Brewing; Hop Valley; Iron Horse Brewery; Lantern Brewing; Ram Restaurant & Brewery; Scamp Brewing Co.; and Schilling Cider.

Food: Hot Revolution Donuts; Stella Fiore Pizza; and Tacos La Flaca.

Activities: Historic farmhouse tours; special Hops Craze exhibit; giant lawn games; and Festival Donkey photo-ops.

Pets: Bring your dog for pet fun provided by Reber Ranch.