History of Hops
The story started in 2003, when a small group of directors were trying to decide on a new event for Fortuna with a $1,000 grant provided by the Fortuna Business Improvement District. It took two years of planning, organizing and research. Fortuna Rotary and ESA offered to sponsor the event and Hops in Humboldt was born. The very first Hops event was held in 2004, in a small beer garden between the two playgrounds at Rohner Park. There were 10 breweries at best; all of our local breweries plus a few more from Northern California. It had a bluegrass theme with local bands and some random vendors. As the event progressed throughout the years more breweries were added. Mixed genres of music became the norm, the Hops beer games and the Hops awards were born. Local homemade food and vendors started to make the event more unique. Partnerships with transportation companies were formed to provide safe transportation alternatives for attendees. The end of year we saw elbow-to-elbow room only in the festival and it was evident the festival had outgrown its location. In year six Hops decided to make the move off the green grass of Rohner Park to a larger home and current location on Bartow Field. That year Hops also started the process of shedding its sponsors and led the paperwork to become its own nonprofit organization. With a board of directors and a dedicated beer-loving committee that works year-round, Hops in Humboldt is bigger and better than ever! Hops has proudly taken in hundreds of thousands of dollars in event income. The majority of our budget is put back into the community and spent with local businesses to make the event happen. 100 percent of the proceeds are given back to local groups each year who fall under our grant categories.
Hops Proceeds
Where does the money go? So, you come to Hops, shell out $30-$100 to get in and there are thousands of people there. They sell Hops gear and have games. Who gets the money? Hops in Humboldt Inc. that’s who. Most folks don’t know but Hops is a registered 501c3 nonprofit corporation. We have a board of directors, bylaws, website and everything. Through a grant process we distribute our proceeds to a variety of Humboldt County organizations that fall within five categories: schools, youth activities, senior programs, municipal programs, and drug and alcohol prevention. Anyone falling within one of these five categories is welcome to submit a grant application to Hops. To date over $500,000 in grants. Thank you for your support and sacrificing your sobriety in the name of community service!
Join us in Fortuna!
In the heart of the redwoods, just off US 101, 18 miles South of Eureka and 253 miles North of San Francisco, rests the Friendly City of Fortuna, the home of the biggest beer fest in Humboldt.
Hops in Humboldt features over 45 of the best breweries from across the country. For one price you can try unlimited samples of hundreds of different brews in your own cool, commemorative glass, listen to live bands as they rock the stage throughout the day, and cruise different arts and crafts vendors selling everything from Humboldt clothing to locally made jewelry.