Sunny skies all day, temperatures in the high 60s with light breezes from the SSW: that’s the forecast for the inaugural Tryon Beer Fest, this Saturday, Nov. 10.

Starting at 11 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. at the Tryon Depot Plaza, the weather will be ideal for sampling a dozen craft beers and munching on a bratwurst, kielbasas or a large, soft Bavarian pretzel.

A core quartet of workers are poised to erect tents, set out banks of tables and chairs, prepare the band stage, hang streamers and banners and signage, park the trailers with beer taps, haul ice, crank up the CO2 and set up sampling stations. Larry Eckstein, Dennis Nagle, Bill Crowell and Pete Viehman will direct a small corps of volunteers to transform the Tryon Depot Plaza into a beer lover’s haven.

“There will be no need for umbrellas,” Eckstein said. “And no need for heavy jackets either! It’s time to ‘Tap Into Tryon’ for a pleasant afternoon in every way.”

Accordionist Christopher Laughter will play from his repertoire of international folk music and take requests as he strolls through beer fest area from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Then the five-member Foothills Oompah Band will perform from the stage. They are a seasoned ensemble of entertainers who delight in getting an audience on their feet, singing along, clapping and dancing.

Honorary Chairman Sam Summey, former owner of two beer bars in Tryon, will be on hand in the early afternoon to greet his many longtime friends as they sip a few samples. Each of the following breweries will offer two to four styles of beers:

BottleTree, Pisgah, Southern Applalachian, Duck Rabbit, Sierra Nevada, Angry Orchard, French Broad, Big Boss, Sweetwater, LoneRider, NattyGreene, RJ Rockers, Thomas Creek and Jay Adam’s Home Brew – Pacolet Brown.