Charlotte’s inaugural Untappd Beer Festival, marketed as the ‘biggest beer festival in Charlotte’s history’, left many ticket holders dry and angry.
A little less than an hour after the festival started, rain from the forecasted thunderstorm began falling.
Organizers rushed everyone under cover due to the weather;
URGENT🚨🚨 #UntappdBeerFestival Attendees: Please make your way to the concourse and off the field. Weather is approaching and all attendees must evacuate the field.
— Untappd (@untappd) May 4, 2019
Facility lightning protocol requires everyone on the field and in the stands to evacuate to the concourse until the stadium can deem it safe. We appreciate your understanding and hope to get you back on the field as soon as we’re given the “all clear.”
— Untappd (@untappd) May 4, 2019
🚨 ATTENTION 🚨 for those that Untappd Beer Festival: There’s severe weather in the area. We are evaluating and will provide more information soon. If weather permits, we will extend the event. We thank you for your patience!
— Untappd (@untappd) May 4, 2019
Many people pointed out that even though they were expecting rain that day, the festival organizers did not have any breweries set up inside;
About 3 hours later, Untappd finally started letting people back in;
ATTENTION: We are going to begin setting up the tents again. We will look to reopen at 6:30. We will extend the event to 9:00, weather permitting. We will allow re-entry.
— Untappd (@untappd) May 4, 2019
but most of the 12,000 ticket holders never got the memo;
@untappd what do we do when we were told to leave by security? They told us to go home. How can we get a refund since yall didn’t follow any of your Rain or Shine FAQs? We never even made it in.
— Jodi Phillips (@TheJodiCLT) May 5, 2019
The next day they posted the following statement regarding what happened;
A statement and update from our team on #UntappdBeerFestival pic.twitter.com/DZsaUbF4bp
— Untappd (@untappd) May 5, 2019
Immediately after posting their public statement, attendees of the festival started commenting their complaints, many saying that the issues went far beyond the bad weather;
A joke. My husband and I were able to get to two drinks after waiting in an outrageously long line to get in the stadium and at the tent for the breweries. WAY over sold. A total waste of $100
— Chrissy Curran (@chrissyc521) May 6, 2019
The biggest complaint was that they sold far too many tickets;
A joke. My husband and I were able to get to two drinks after waiting in an outrageously long line to get in the stadium and at the tent for the breweries. WAY over sold. A total waste of $100
— Chrissy Curran (@chrissyc521) May 6, 2019
I have been an @untappd evangelist for five years. I am a monthly supporter. I wear their merch and check in religiously. I brought friends from out of town for the first #UntappdBeerFestival.
This has been embarrassingly bad. An hour and a half. I’ve tried zero beers.
— Zachary Gorelick (@ZacharyGorelick) May 4, 2019
The other big complaint was the size of the glasses given out;
#UntappdBeerFestival pic.twitter.com/6uYJoeJyJn
— KG (@Who_KyleWatts) May 5, 2019
Perhaps the only highlight for many of the thirsty, tired, and wet attendees was the ‘giant-inflatable-beer-can-football’ game that spontaneously erupted;
@untappd @Panthers pic.twitter.com/vE5ln85GEg
— Kamaro G (@Korleone5) May 6, 2019
Did you go to Untappd festival?
How was your experience?
If you’re looking for a solid beer festival that’s proven itself year after year, check out next week’s South End Hops Fest.
Tickets to the hops fest are about half as much as Untappd, and they’ll likely be featuring more local breweries on tap (also, the forecast is showing 80 degrees and blue skies for the day of the festival).
You can see everything they’ll be offering at southendhopsfest.org