1. When is The CBC Great Pumpkin Ale Festival? What time does it start?

Wow. I can’t believe it’s P-Fest time already! This year The CBC Great Pumpkin Ale Festival is on Saturday, October 29th. Doors open at 1:00pm. Last call is at about 12:30am. We kick your butt out around 1:00am (gently, but assertively…). People will be coming and going all day. You do not need to be here at 1pm.

2. How much is to Pumpkin Fest?

Admission is $10 – payable in cash ONLY (Credit cards will be accepted inside for beer and food)

3. What do I get for my 10 bucks?

You get admission to THE original New England Area Pumpkin Fest, the Biggest & Best Pumpkin Festival around and of course the most badass Halloween event in the Boston area.

You also of course get a special edition Festival Glass which you will use throughout the evening to sample some, many or all of the 40 pumpkin ales we will have on tap.  You also get the ‘festival guide’ detailing the 40 pumpkin brews.

And a portion of proceeds will also go to Kendall Community Group (KCG). The KCG was founded in 1987 by corporations in the Kendall Square area as a way to support the three major youth service agencies in the Area IV neighborhood, namely the Community Art Center, the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, and Tutoring Plus. Think about: Halloween Shenanigans and Halloween Debauchery is actually GOOD for the community!

4. Are there advanced tickets available? How do I get tickets?

There are NO advanced sales available. Admission is $10 at the door. We are opening 3 hours earlier this year to help cut back on the initial long line to get in. Doors open at 1:00pm.

5. I’ve been hearing about this “pumpkin festival” for the last few years. What the heck is it?

Basically we take our restaurant and turn it into a Halloween Spectacle and a Pumpkin Ale extravaganza. We decorate the hell out of the place, set up a beer garden on our patio, a dozen or so pouring stations in our rear dining room, another 15+ beers on the main bar – 40 Pumpkin Brews in all, from far and near – pumpkin pub fare in the main dining room and “Oktoberfesty” fare on the patio. And of course hundreds of freaky beer fans decked out in their Halloween best. It is quite a scene indeed!

6. Do I have to wear a costume?
You do not need to wear a costume to party at Pumpkin Fest 2011. However, we can’t guarantee that you won’t be teased, harassed, mocked or other wise shunned ; - )

7. Will there be food available?

Yes. There will be limited seating available in our main dining room where we will be serving pumpkin inspired pub friendly (and local and all natural, too!) fare. Check out the menu here. Outside on our patio we will have a double wide grill serving “Oktoberfesty” fare. Check out the menu here.

8. Can I bring my kids?

This is a 21+ event. However children will be allowed in from 1:00pm to 5:00pm as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. After 5:00 it’s 21+.

9. I’ve heard about how popular Pumpkin Festival is – Will I have to wait half an hour to get a beer?

Absolutely not. We will have 3 different bars – The main bar, the beer garden and the rear dining room pouring stations. Drink tickets will be used to purchase all beers, beverages and grill fare. Tickets eliminate bar tenders counting money, making change, etc. this really speeds up the process. So you wait very little to get a beer. Drink tickets can be purchased at one of the 2 tickets stands where there is typically a very short & fast moving line. Our mission is to get a beer in YOUR hand as fast as possible. We will have literally like 12 or 13 bar tenders on that night – normally we have 1 or 2 tops.

10. Should I bring cash or can I use my card?

You should bring $10 in CASH for admission – admission is cash only.  After that, you’ll need drink tickets to get your brews. There will be two ticket stations. 1 will be taking cards. Cards will also be accepted for table service in our main dining room.

11. Will you be serving bud, bud light or bud pumpkin?

You’re uninvited ; - ) Next question…