Pour Decisions: A Complete How-to Guide to the 2025 Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival

With a little more than a week left until the highly anticipated return of the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival to the Atlantic City Convention Center, we're excited to offer our top tips for making the most out of your time at this must-attend event for craft beer lovers. Having attended this festival since 2007, we have developed our strategies through years of experience, resulting in what we believe is the ultimate survival guide for the AC Beer and Music Festival. 

Planning Ahead: Ticketing, Accommodations, and Transportation

Tickets for the AC Beer and Music Fest can be conveniently purchased through www.universe.com. For those who prefer paper tickets or wish to avoid service fees, you can score fee-free tickets at Axe & Arrow, Behr Brewing, Bolero Snort Brewery, Dr. Brewlittle’s Beer Co, Conservatory Cannabis, Farmers & Bankers Brewing, Farm Truck Brewing, Glasstown Brewery, Lone Eagle Brewing, Pinelands Brewing Company, Ship Bottom Brewery, Swedesboro Brewing Company, and Wild Air Beer Works through March 27. Stay updated on event times and other details by following @acbeerfest on Instagram. For detailed information about General Admission, VIP admission, Jitney packages (more details below), Designated Driver tickets, and Group Sales, visit www.acbeerfest.com/tickets.

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While breweries, beer selections, vendors, food choices, and activities remain consistent across both sessions, the choice of which session to attend often boils down to the musical entertainment. Session #1 on Saturday, March 29, from 12pm to 4pm, features Senses Fail, supported by Hidden in Plain View and Flycatcher. Session #2 on Saturday, March 29, from 7pm to 11pm, presents Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, with supporting acts Catbite and Mesh.

If you’re local to Atlantic City, or have a designated driver accompanying you to the fest, this might not apply to you. However, if you are in need of accommodations, there is a wide variety of options available. Event organizers have collaborated with various casino hotels and the Sheraton at the AC Convention Center to offer competitive rates for festival attendees. Exclusive rates for hotels such as Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, Tropicana Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Caesars Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Resorts Casino Hotel, Showboat Resort, and The Claridge Hotel can be accessed through www.acbeerfest.com/hotels. For a distinctive upscale experience resembling a home away from home, consider Cozy CoHost Airbnb. Of course, if none of these fit your specific needs, there are plenty of other hotels, motels, and vacation rentals (e.g. Airbnb and Vrbo) throughout the city.

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There are multiple transportation choices available for traveling to and from the event. Parking is conveniently located on level 1 of the convention center for a fee of $20. It's important to emphasize that drinking and driving is never acceptable, and we strongly advise against it. For this reason, we discourage you from utilizing the parking garage without a designated driver.

The NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Terminal, is adjacent to the Atlantic City Convention Center and just a short distance from the boardwalk. There is daily service from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to the Atlantic City Rail Terminal. Additionally, Atlantic City Line trains offer stops in Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Lindenwold, Atco, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City, and Absecon. Complimentary shuttle bus services connect the Atlantic City Rail Terminal with various casinos in Atlantic City. You can check schedules and purchase tickets on the NJ Transit Mobile App. 

Jitney packages include pick-up from a location within a 50-mile radius of the festival, transportation to and from the Atlantic City Convention Center, and return to your initial pick-up point, 13 General Admission tickets, and seating for up to 13 passengers.

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We recommend utilizing rideshare services to travel to and from the AC Beer and Music Festival. Arriving 30-45 minutes before doors open is advised to secure a prime spot in line and to mitigate any potential delays or surge pricing due to increased demand. Uber fare estimates to Atlantic City Convention Center from various casinos are below:

Tropicana

Uber XL $18.74

UberX $12.94

Borgata 

UberXL $13.97

UberX $9.91

Harrah’s 

UberXL $19.79

UberX $13.91

Ocean 

UberXL $18.74

UberX $12.98

Hard Rock

UberXL $18.74

UberX $12.98

Caesar’s

UberXL $18.74

UberX $12.94

Day-of Preparation: Setting Yourself up for Success

Hydrate before, during, and after the beer festival. If you think you have drank enough water, drink more. On a normal day, you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water. On day when you are indulging in alcohol and salty foods, and clocking extra miles walking around the convention center floor, your body requires even more hydration. Enhance your water with Waterboy packets from our Amazon store for an extra boost. Each guest is allowed to bring one sealed water bottle or an empty refillable one.

Do not attempt to partake in the AC Beer Festival on an empty stomach. Put down a nice base with a light meal an hour or two in advance. Our research shows that high water content foods, as well as starches, prepare your stomach for hours of beer sampling. Enjoy a bowl of Vietnamese pho from Noodles of the World at Borgata, or venture outside of the casino to Atlantic Avenue and try Pho Sydney or Com Ga Ninh Kieu. You’ll be satisfied, but not too full to keep you from snacking around the festival. One of our favorite parts of the event is exploring the offerings from some of the best restaurants in Atlantic City that set up shop in the Convention Center for the weekend. 

Dress for comfort, especially when selecting your shoes. 

While cash is preferred, some vendors may accept cards or electronic payments. However, this depends on vendor discretion and the reliability of internet connectivity. ATMs are available on-site for your convenience.

Establish a designated meeting place for your group in case of separation. Our suggestion? The sandcastle. You're welcome.

During the Festival: Keeping a Pleasant Pace

It's important to keep in mind that this event is a marathon, not a sprint. While attendees are encouraged to enjoy the vast array of beer selections, sampling all 400+ beers available is simply not feasible. It's crucial to pace yourself and participate in the experience responsibly. Although it's tempting to sample numerous 2oz beers rapidly, it’s a good way to ruin your night (and that of those around you). As 40-year-old beer enthusiasts who attend festivals to discover new beers, we advocate for a more measured approach.

We have each adopted strategies to enhance our beer festival experience while maintaining moderation. TJ's approach involves transitioning from lighter beers, such as lagers and hefeweizens, to darker varieties like stouts, brown ales, and double IPAs. On the other hand, Andrea prefers to focus on one or two similar beer styles, unless she encounters something particularly intriguing. She often gravitates towards sours and saisons, which are typically less abundant options at the festival, aiding in pacing. Taking breaks between tastings and being selective with samples also helps prevent palate fatigue, a common occurrence when consuming numerous similar beverages. These breaks essentially refresh the palate, allowing for continued enjoyment of new flavors. We also prioritize discovering beers and breweries we've never encountered before over old favorites that are more accessible to us outside of the festival. 

Shopping the more than 50 vendors participating in the festival is a fun way to take a break in between samples. The Escape Plans will be vending our handmade screen-printed Atlantic City t-shirts and hoodies. Look for us at the Convention Center during both sessions. 

Post-festival Fun: AfterParty, Iconic Eats, and Recovery Mode

Follow us @the.escape.plans on Instagram for updates on pre- and post-festival events, as they are announced. 

After 4+ hours of sampling, walking, and building up an appetite, grab some great food at one of our favorite Atlantic City spots. Session #2 lets out late, making late night hours essential. Tony’s Baltimore Grill has some of the best food in the city at affordable prices, and their kitchen is open late. If it’s your first time there, get a feel of what has kept this AC institution a favorite among locals and tourists since 1927 with the TBG Experience. For $40.99 a person, enjoy a house wine, draft beer, or soda; salad; their famous spaghetti and meatballs; one of four favorite entrees; and the house dessert. White House Subs makes the most perfect Italian hoagies we’ve ever had, and they have locations on Arctic Avenue (open until 8pm on Saturday, perfect for after session #2) and at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (open until midnight on Saturday for session #2 festival goers). If you haven’t had enough craft beer, or if you want to sample a variety of wing sauces instead, Wingcraft is a great option for both. They close at 11pm on Saturday, making them a great option for after session #2.  

Now, for the dreaded morning after. Caffeinate at Hayday Coffee. Grab a breakfast sandwich from Hot Bagels and More or visit Gilchrist for a Hungry Man Combo #2 with blueberry hotcakes. On your way out of town, order any combination of loaded fries, pizza, and insanely innovative sandwiches from Tony Boloney’s, bring your haul home, reheat, and enjoy.

If you have any unanswered questions, feel free to reach out via email or DM us on Instagram or Facebook. Cheers!

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