Please take a read through our frequently asked questions
PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT RIGHT OF ADMISSION IS RESERVED. NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR BEVERAGE IS PERMITTED, ANY TRANSGRESSORS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
WE CANNOT VALIDATE THE PURCHASE OF 3RD PARTY TICKETS, FOR THIS REASON TICKETS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE.
To put it simply, anyone can create a fake ticket and sell it across many platforms under a guise. The fake ticket will not work at the gate though, then we are left with the problem and argument at the gate when the ticket was not actually purchased through us in the first place. That is why we have to verify as much as we do. Ticket users will be verified against their purchase, ie. the ticket owner or user group must present their own ticket for access.
The festival will be making it's return to the 26th and 27th of February 2027
Accommodation and tickets are limited, don't dilly dally around. We would hate for you to go thirsty.
The event makes use of the village square, that is smack bang in the middle of the village. All other attractions in the village stay open, the square is just completely closed off to ticket holders only.
As a festival, we do not get involved in accommodation logistics. There are ample booking agencies in the village including Airbnb, we do recommend 1st trying Mountain Odyssey.
Heads up, accommodation does book out early. We recommend that you book your accommodation early.
There are more than 4500 beds in the village of Clarens alone, then there are ample neighboring guest farms and towns.
Tickets are ONLY available through the festival website. We do not support the sale of 3rd party tickets at all and we cannot verify purchases you make from other ticket holders.
PLEASE NOTE : Tickets are limited and normally sell out 2 months prior to the show.
Strictly speaking, this is a craft beer festival - We have beer, food, wine, soft drinks and cider available.
Clarens is filled with attractions and an incredible variety of shops. We do not want to clash with their offering.
Wouldn’t suggest it… The brewers will serve in the 2027 festival glass only and you will be lumped with carrying your own empty glass around all day long. Save your energy and focus on the brew.
What if you lose your glass or leave it at your house?
We have you covered there, you can buy a new festival glass at the merchandise stand.
We love your little friends, as long as they are friendly and cleaned up after. Please keep your dog on a leash.
All breweries at the festival have gone through extensive screening to get to the show. We also limit brewery participation, so there is a wait list of breweries wanting to take part in the show.
Please do send us your deets and let us see how and if we can get you involved in a show.
Our Ticket & Security Policy
We want to ensure that every guest at our festival has a fair and safe experience. To protect our community from ticket scalping, piracy, and fraud, we have a specific policy regarding digital tickets.
Why we do things differently
Once a digital ticket is in the market, we lose control over where it goes. To prevent "mass copying" and unauthorized reselling at inflated prices, we have implemented the following security measures:
Identity Matching: For security reasons, the username on the ticket must match the group or individual arriving at the gates. If they don't match, we unfortunately have to deny entry. This ensures that only the rightful owner of a ticket gets into the festival.
No Private Transfers: Because we cannot verify the validity of a ticket sold privately, we do not allow manual ticket transfers.
The Resale Pool (Your Pathway to a Refund)
We understand that life happens and sometimes you can no longer attend. While we don't offer direct refunds, we have created a safe way for you to get your money back:
Contact Us: If you can no longer attend, please contact us directly to request that your tickets be placed in our official Resale Pool.
Timing: The resale pool officially opens in February, once our Phase 3 ticket sales have closed.
How it Works: We will take your tickets and offer them to other fans looking for a spot. Once your tickets are purchased by someone else, we handle the official transfer of ownership and issue your refund accordingly.
Important Details
Service Fees: Please note that service charges and credit card processing fees are non-refundable (as these are charged by the payment providers).
Force Majeure: While we always aim to party, the festival cannot be held liable for cancellations due to circumstances beyond our control (such as government regulations or Acts of God).
Behind the magic of the Clarens Craft Beer Festival is a vision brought to life by Gavin Kearns and the powerhouse team at Shift Concept Events.
Far from just another date on the calendar, this festival is the crown jewel of a nationwide operation dedicated to the art of the "good time." Shift Concept Events doesn't just manage logistics; they curate lifestyles, blending high-end production with savvy sponsorship strategy to create spaces where memories are made.
The Heart Behind the Hops
For over 15 years, Gavin Kearns has been fueled by a singular, infectious enthusiasm. His mission is simple yet profound: bringing people together. * The Vision: To transform a love for craft beer into a community-wide celebration.
The Execution: A masterclass in event production that spans the entire country.
The Vibe: A seamless blend of local flavor, premium sponsorship, and authentic human connection.
Under the protection of a registered trademark and the guidance of a team that lives for the "wow" factor, the Clarens Craft Beer Festival continues to be a testament to what happens when passion meets professional precision.
Ticket holders will receive a festival glass, access to the festival and entertainment for the period defined on their ticket.
Clarens does not own any of the infrastructure for the event. The setup requires the use of suppliers across South Africa.
Tickets will be sold in phases, this means the earlier you buy the cheaper the tickets will be. This is very much the same way tickets are sold for airlines.
There will be three phases : -
Phase one = Early Bird
Phase two = Standard
Phase three = Late comers
All tickets will provide you with the same experience, just at a different price.
The festival grounds have limited space, so we can only sell a limited amount of tickets.
As organizer's, we commit to not overcrowding the show grounds and we respect your space.
Alas no, but the variety of food on offer is fabulous and you won’t want to much on your marmite sarmie. Besides the beer and ciders
on offer there will be soft drinks, wine, water and coffee.
There are also vegan options available, from vegan drinks to vegan food.
Friday 27 February : 12:00 - 19:30 (the gate will close for access or re-entry at 18:30)
Saturday 28 February 2026 : 10:00 - 18:00 (the gate will close for access or re-entry at 17:30)
Beer sales close one hour prior to the festival closing.
You will need the festival currency to purchase any food or beverage. This can be purchased from the stand in the middle of the square. Beers will be around R50 for a full 480ml.
PLEASE NOTE : There is no cash accepted anywhere on the square.
Children are humans too and every humans counts against our capacity limits. Any child over the age of 5 will require a tickets. Children are also counted as humans and we unfortunately do have a limited capacity.
Children between 5 - 18 years of age will require a ticket to the festival as they too make use of the services and infrastructure within.
PLEASE NOTE : Due to the nature of the festival and alcohol consumption - we do not recommend this a place fit for minors. In particular unaccompanied ones.
There are child minding facilities on site which are included in the fee for children. The R250 fee is valid for the entire weekend.
NO UNDER AGE DRINKING
Legally - NO!
But... we realize this is nearly impossible to police so we ask you nicely to :-
Not smoke in the tents or in public seating areas. This applies for hubblies, mountain grass, giggly twig, vapes and anything else of this nature.
Clarens Courier Shuttle Service provides a safe and convenient shuttle service to and from the beer festival. Avoid the hassle of parking and enjoy a beer or two without worrying about driving. Book you ride at clarenscouriers@gmail.com 0744543786
Keeping Your Festival Experience Safe
We know it’s tempting to look for tickets elsewhere if an event is sold out, but we want to make sure you don’t get left at the gates! To keep things fair and secure for everyone, we have a strict No-Transfer Policy.
Why we stay "Names Only"
This rule isn't meant to be a hassle—it’s actually our strongest tool to fight ticket scalpers. By ensuring tickets aren't easily transferable, we stop people from buying in bulk just to resell them to you for a massive profit.
Crucially, the name on the ticket is our only "Source of Truth." If there is ever a dispute about whether a ticket is valid, we can only verify it against the name of the original purchaser and the purchase record online.
Before you buy from a stranger, ask yourself:
We want to save you the heartbreak of being turned away at the entrance. If you are considering buying a ticket from someone on social media or a third-party site, please consider the risks:
Is it even real? Scammers are experts at making fake digital tickets that look identical to ours.
Has it been used? A single digital ticket can be printed or screenshotted 100 times, but the barcode will only work for the first person who scans it.
Will you get in? If your name doesn't match the ticket (or if the original purchaser isn't right there with you), we will have to deny access. ### The Bottom Line To protect yourself and the festival, please only use our official Resale Pool. It is the only way to guarantee that your ticket is 100% valid and that the name on the ticket is officially transferred to yours.
A Special "Thank You" to Clarens: Our 15th Anniversary Thursday Sundowner!
This year is a massive milestone for us—15 years of magic in the mountains! To celebrate, we wanted to do something we’ve never done before to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to the villagers of Clarens for hosting us with such incredible hospitality since the very beginning.
The Thursday Kick-off (One Night Only!)
For our 15th anniversary, we are hosting a special "Once-Off" Thursday night show!
When: Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Time: 16:00 – 20:00
The Vibe: A beautiful sunset session featuring live entertainment from Jaryd Smith and Jason Hartman.
How to Join Us
Because this is a unique community celebration, we are handling tickets a little differently:
Local Love: Thursday night tickets are available exclusively at the Clarens Brewery at a special local discount of just R160.
Is it included in the Weekend Pass? Since this is a standalone "Once-Off" celebration, the Thursday night show is not bundled with the standard weekend pass. You will need a separate ticket for this evening.
The Anniversary Bonus: Want to stay for the whole weekend? We have a special gift for you! If you purchase a Thursday night ticket at the Clarens Brewery, you can buy your additional weekend passes right there at the same time for a 20% discount. R350 - 20% = R280.
Come raise a glass with us as we kick off our 15th-year celebrations early!
What? There is more? We thought we had all the answers... maybe.
If we have left something out, please drop us a mail.
