MIDDLEBURY — Vermont Hard Cider officials estimate that 7,500 to 8,000 people turned out for the company’s “Ciderbration” event in Middlebury on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Most of the throngs of people gathered by the stage in a fenced in area behind the company’s new 100,000-square-foot cidery off Exchange Street in front of a stage where they enjoyed good weather and a handful of musical acts, including Dirty Heads, Dr. Dog, Jamie Lee Thurston and Caroline Rose. Also available on the grounds was food and 13 different varieties of its Woodchuck Hard Cider on tap.
The Ciderbration was organized as a public unveiling of Vermont Hard Cider’s new cidery, which marked its grand opening earlier this month. It also served as a 23rd birthday party for the company.
Nate Formalarie, director of communications for Vermont Hard Cider, said the pre-registered attendees consumed a total of 120 kegs of hard cider. Five food vendors did some brisk business on site. The company bused the Ciderbrationists to and from 25 different parking lots spread throughout town.
“It was a great event, no major problems,” Formalarie said. “The audience was amazing.”