Over 20 craft breweries from the Carolinas will participate in an upcoming small-batch beer festival in downtown Wilmington. 

Hosted by Hi-Wire Brewing, the festival will feature an array of “one-off” batches that can’t be found on store shelves. “No styles are off-limits,” the event description states. 

Founded in Asheville in 2013, Hi-Wire Brewing’s Wilmington location is an expansive taproom at 1020 Princess St. that opened in late 2020. Wilmington is Hi-Wire's fifth taproom and the brewing company is in the midst of planning four more. 

The nearly 12,000-square-foot taproom in Wilmington marked a visual turnaround for the city's Soda Pop District; developers renovated an old auto shop to make way for the eclectic ambiance. One block down the street, redevelopment of the former Coca-Cola plant is getting underway this spring.

The company wrote on its Facebook page it’s bringing the small-batch festival “from the mountains to the coast.” Next month's small-batch festival will be Hi-Wire's fifth, but the first time the event will be hosted in Wilmington. 

The small-batch beer festival will be free to attend. Participants may purchase $4 beer tokens at the event to try 6-ounce “tasters.” 

There are also limited $250 VIP packages that include a 10-seat table, 20 beer tokens and 10 commemorative glasses; only six tables are available. 

The event will take place Saturday, May 14, from noon to 4 p.m. The Hatch Brothers will play live music and Wheelz Pizza will be on location from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.