Great Nebraska Beer Fest is TODAY!

After many months of planning, organizing, more planning, and waiting, the big day has finally arrived! The 5th annual Great Nebraska Beer Fest gets underway in just a few hours from now at Shadow Lake Towne Center (72nd St. & Hwy 370). This year's brewers have all arrived with their wares, the festival grounds are getting set up, and all the volunteers are ready to help serve the patrons. A few tickets may be left ($45 each today) at this time of this post but the event is expected to be a complete sellout. Over 3,000 attendees will be at this year's event, making this the highest attended GNBF to date. The high temperature today should top out in the low 90s with almost no chance of rain; a very seasonably warm August day.

This year, GNBF will be a mobile version of the festival guide available to help guide guests in their pursuit of their favorite beers and breweries. Also, take some time to check out this year's festival map to help plan out your day.

In addition to the sampling to be had from nearly 80 participating breweries (including seven area homebrew clubs), there will be bands playing throughout the day to entertain guests. If you need a break from all the sampling to be had, there are also four separate beer seminars going on each hour during the festival that people can sign up for and enjoy on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each seminar will feature an well-known beer industry expert covering a different craft beer theme. Food will also be available for purchase on the festival grounds.

Here's the schedule for today's events:

• Noon VIP Session Opening Music by the Omaha Pipes and Drums
• Noon to 1pm VIP, Brewers & Volunteers Special Session Fest Map
• 12:15 West Stage - Booze Money
• 1pm General Admission Opening Music by the Omaha Pipes and Drums
• 1 pm Beerfest Open to General Public Fest Map
• 1:15pm West Stage - South Paw Bluegrass Band
• 1:30pm Seminar Tent - Jeff Pohl, Schells Brewing - MN
• 2:30pm Seminar Tent - Dr Bill Sysak, Stone Brewing Company - CA
• 3:30pm Seminar Tent - Gordon Schuck, Funkwerks Brewing - CO
• 3:45pm West Stage - Peer Cussion, Drum Corps
• 4:00pm West Stage - Grand Theft Girlfriend
• 4:30pm Seminar Tent - Stephanie Meyer, Victory Brewing - PA
• 6pm Final Pour, Beer Fest Ends

The Nebraska Beer Blog will have a booth here today and we'll be here the entire day covering the festival for all its readers. You're always welcome to stop by and chat with any of the available blog writers during the event.