The 14th annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival is back on Swasey Parkway in Exeter, New Hampshire, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and organizers are already warning it could sell out. Tickets went on sale this week.
What It Is and Where It Happens
This is billed as the largest beer festival in New England, running from 12 to 4 p.m. along the riverside Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter. It’s underwritten by M&T Bank and jointly presented by the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce and Exeter Parks and Recreation.
Over 200 different beers, ciders and hard seltzers will pour from breweries including Exeter Beer Company, Fat Hen Brewery, WHYM Craft Pub & Brewery, Baxter Brewing, North Country Hard Cider and Boston Beer Company, alongside plenty more. Chili comes from area restaurants and breweries too, with everything competing for a “People’s Choice Award” in both the beer and chili categories.
Ticket Prices and Timing
Tickets are on sale now, only online through powderkegbeerfest.com.
- VIP Admission: $75, gates open at 12 p.m.
- General Admission: $55, gates open at 1 p.m.
- Designated Driver / Youth: $15, no alcohol, includes chili samples and entertainment
All ticket types include unlimited beer and chili samples while supplies last, plus a keepsake tasting cup. Organizers say any tickets left over will be sold online at the gate on the day for an extra $10, so buying early is the safer bet if last year’s sellout is anything to go by.
Family Friendly, With Entertainment on Top
The festival is family friendly, with artisan tents, local food trucks and live music from Matty & The Penders running through the afternoon. Kids 8 and under get in free.
Greg Bisson, director of Exeter Parks & Recreation, said the event “brings people in the community together” and has sold out in past years, urging people to buy tickets now rather than risk missing out. Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Wheeler added that proceeds stay local, supporting youth activities, community events and small business programs across Exeter.
Getting There
Exeter sits on the AMTRAK Downeaster line between Boston and Portland, and the festival is a short walk from the train station. For drivers, parking is available at Main Street School, Lincoln Street School and the Downeaster station, plus on-street parking where allowed around town.
It’s a rain-or-shine event with no rain date, so plan for October weather either way.
Part of a Bigger October Beer Calendar
October is peak season for events like this one. Oktoberfest itself runs through early October, and we’ve covered why the beer most people associate with it, Marzen, isn’t actually what most modern celebrations pour anymore.
The Powder Keg festival is now in its 14th year, which puts its start around 2012, right as small regional beer festivals like this one started multiplying across New England alongside the craft brewing boom. That same community-festival spirit is what drives bigger annual moments like American Craft Beer Week, just on a hyper-local, one-town scale.
FAQs
When is the 2026 Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival?
Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 12 to 4 p.m. at Swasey Parkway in Exeter, New Hampshire.
How much are tickets?
VIP admission is $75, general admission is $55, and designated driver/youth tickets are $15. Tickets are sold online through powderkegbeerfest.com, and remaining tickets are sold at the gate for $10 more.
Is the festival kid friendly?
Yes. It’s a family event with food trucks, live music and craft vendors alongside the beer and chili tastings, and kids 8 and under get in free.
What if it rains?
The festival runs rain or shine. There’s no rain date, so it goes ahead regardless of weather.
