Ventnor Botanic Garden is delighted to announce the confirmed dates for this year’s Hops Festival as Friday 25th October to Monday 28th October.

Now in its fourth year, the Hops Festival celebrates the harvest of the hops grown on site at VBG as well as the continuation of the tradition of picking them by hand. After all the hops have been carefully picked, they are then dried and brewed into VBG’s own beers Tropic Ale and Botanic Ale by local brewery, Yates.

Over a weekend of celebrations, VBG’s own beer shall be available to purchase as well as a range of other speciality beers. A local produce market will also be showing off the quality and diversity of homegrown foods and produce from the local area.

To make sure all members of the family are kept entertained, children’s activities such as face painting, outdoor play equipment and a drawing competition shall also be taking place. Live music and local performers will also help to set the merry atmosphere and ensure the celebrations of this year’s harvest continue in style.

It is hoped this year’s Hops Festival will be greatly supported by local Ventnor residents and people from all across the Island. This year, VBG is launching the Sponsor a Barrel scheme. Local businesses, organisations, groups and teams are invited to sponsor a barrel for £100 to help raise money for local charities the Ventnor Enhancement Fund and the VBG Ventnor Botanic Garden Friends' Society

Hops Festival will be running from 10am until 6pm each day. Entry to the Festival and parking is free.