Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival
Founded in 2008 in the grounds of the Mercure Canberra hotel, the Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival has grown from a handful of exhibitors into one of the capital’s biggest celebrations of Australian craft beer, cider, and spirits.
Held annually each March on the corner of Ainslie and Limestone Avenues in Braddon, the festival brings together dozens of breweries, cideries, and distilleries from across the country for a day of tastings, live music, and food, right in the heart of Canberra.
Festival Highlights:
- 40+ Breweries & Distilleries: Local and interstate producers pour beer, cider, seltzers, spirits, and wine, with tasters, full pours, and cans all on offer.
- Live Entertainment: A day-long line-up of live music and roving entertainment keeps the festival grounds buzzing from open to close.
- Gourmet Food Vendors: Food trucks and stalls serve up options to match the day’s tastings, alongside eating competitions and other crowd activities.
- Family-Friendly Program: Face painting, balloon artists, and free entry for under-18s with a paying adult make it an easy family outing as well as a beer festival.
Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:
- Tickets: General admission tickets are cheaper in advance than on the day, so booking ahead is worth it.
- Cashless Event: The festival runs entirely cashless, so bring a card or phone for payments rather than cash.
- Getting There: The festival strongly recommends arriving by rideshare or taxi rather than driving, given limited parking around the Braddon venue.
- What to Bring: Outside food and drink aren’t permitted on site, so plan to buy from festival vendors once inside.
- Accommodation: Canberra hotels can book out on festival weekends, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
- Explore Canberra: Braddon’s own bars and cafes are worth exploring before or after the festival, along with the rest of the capital — browse top Canberra tours and activities here.
See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.



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