Alpena, MI – Starting this Friday, downtown bars, tasting rooms, and restaurants will be celebrating the 50th annual Michigan Brown Trout Festival that takes place Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 28, 2024. Each day during the festival from 4-6 pm, a different business will be offering themed cocktails and drink specials as part of a Social District Happy Hour promotion hosted by the Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

The Social District allows people to grab a drink “to-go” and carry it throughout Downtown Alpena, including on sidewalks, the Center Alley, Culligan Plaza, Red Brick’s food truck courts, and city parks. The Social District boundaries go right up to the Brown Trout area, so attendees are encouraged to grab a drink from a downtown bar or tasting room, then walk down to the marina to enjoy the various Brown Trout festivities. Please note that alcoholic beverages purchased from the Social District cannot go into the Brown Trout gated area or tents, per liquor-licensing rules; but they can be carried to the entrance.

The Social District Happy Hour promotion starts this Friday, July 19 and runs each day through Sunday, July 28. Each day during the festival, a different downtown business will have promotions on drinks and special summer or Brown Trout themed cocktails from 4-6 pm.

The schedule is below:
 Friday, July 19: Red Brick Tap & Barrel and the River St. Vault Bar & Smoothery (109-111 River St)
 Saturday, July 20: Thunder Bay Winery (109 N Second Ave) – $5.00 glasses of wine & $6.00 specialty drinks
 Sunday, July 21: PIF Cider (205 W Chisholm St) – $2.00 off your first cider slushy with mention of the post
 Monday, July 22: Mango’s Tequila Bar (121 W Chisholm St)
 Tuesday, July 23: HopSide Brewery (129 W Chisholm St) – Tipsy Diver cocktail, featuring their house distilled Silver Rum & any 5oz beer for $2.00
 Wednesday, July 24: Old Polish Corner (626 N Second Ave) – $5.00 martinis & a special fishing themed cocktail
 Thursday, July 25: Rusty Petunias Marketplace (123 W Chisholm St) – special menu of themed summer cocktails
 Friday, July 26: Black Sheep Pub (113 S Second Ave)
 Saturday, July 27: Players Pub & Grub with Clem’s Bait & Tackle (113 S Ninth Ave) – drink & fishing specials
 Sunday, July 28: JJ’s Steak & Pizza House (411 N Second Ave)

According to Brian Peterson, owner of the Old Polish Corner: “This is a great way to try new downtown bars or restaurants that you may not have tried before. With the newly finished north side of Second Avenue, this is a perfect opportunity to come check us out. We will have a special menu of ‘fishing’ inspired martinis during the festival, as well as our $5 martini specials during happy hour from 4-6 pm on Wednesday July 24th.”
Those who want to learn more about the promotion can visit Downtown Alpena on Facebook or www.downtownalpenami.com/socialdistrict.html

For a full schedule of Brown Trout events visit here: Michigan Brown Trout Festival