The BrewLoops Craft Beverage & Music Festival returns to Kamloops for its 10th year, promising two days of music, craft drinks, food, and community spirit. 

Held in the heart of Kamloops on Oct. 3 and 4, the festival continues to thrive as a grassroots celebration, operated entirely by volunteers through the BrewLoops Cultural Development Society, a registered non-profit.

“We just really strongly believe that we want to have more events like this in Kamloops,” Tyson Andrykew, one of the organizers and a current board member, said. “We want to be proponents of the event industry as a whole and also just trying to encourage other ones to come out of the woodwork and set up shop here in town.”

Each year, hundreds of volunteer hours go into organizing BrewLoops, with proceeds from ticket sales and on-site purchases going directly toward covering event costs, supporting entertainers, vendors, and essential infrastructure. 

“It’s a lot of fun, I think, is the main reason why a lot of us do it,” Andrykew said. “A lot of us have become really close friends and spend a lot of time together just outside of BrewLoops topics and meetings.”

These efforts not only help sustain the festival but also contribute to the livelihoods of small businesses in Kamloops and across British Columbia.

Friday’s lineup includes performances by Yale Country Jug Band, Major Love, Surf Hat, Haley Blais, Jessu & Pyka, Father Funk, and Rylo. 

Saturday continues the energy with Wander North, The Daytime Highs, Shred Kelly, Shylow, Fort Knox Five, and Vinyl Ritchie & Foxy Moron. 

“Last year we introduced our first all-electronic music, DJ music, if you will, stage,” Andrykew said. “That was a new thing which was really great and really well received, and we’ll be bringing that back.”

Beyond music, attendees can expect unique activities, local vendors, and plenty of hidden gems throughout the venue.

“We are bringing the Ferris wheel back, which is very exciting,” Andrykew said. “It was kind of a staple of the event from 2015 till 2019, and then we’d gotten away from it a little bit.”

BrewLoops serves as a vital fundraiser for local organizations, with primary support going to the Kamloops West Rotary Club and Western Canada Theatre. 

As smaller festivals across the province face closures due to rising costs and shifting cultural trends, BrewLoops stands out by staying community-driven and inclusive.

“A lot of festivals have closed down just even this past year,” Andrykew said. “Volunteer-driven events like ours, and just festivals in general, are at a real challenging point, it’s starting to burn out volunteers and boards.”

As festival-goers gather once again, organizers encourage everyone to respect the space, vendors, and each other, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for all.

Tickets are available now and can be found on their website at brewloops.ca, with proceeds directly supporting local artists, businesses, and community organizations, making attendance not just a great time, but a meaningful contribution.