Tap That Topeka director discusses 2025 beer festival

TOPEKA (KSNT) — Tap That Topeka is returning for it’s 11th year, and Festival Director Hayden Federico says there’s a lot to look forward to.

The festival began back in 2014 and experienced a small break during the COVID 19 pandemic, but since 2023 it’s been under new management. This year will be Federico’s second year putting the event on.

“We didn’t start the beer festival and had nothing to do with it until we bought the name rights in 2023,” said Federico. “We put a bid in for Tap That Topeka with the goal of mine to keep it as Topeka local forward as possible. With all of our partners owning different businesses throughout Topeka and many living in Topeka, we have always wanted to keep the city as thriving as possible.”

Federico says that they’ve always had a good connection with The Celtic Fox and the breweries from Topeka and Lawrence. When they want to get in contact with a new brewery from farther away, it’s as simple as a phone call with the head brewer.

“Tap That starts with our pre-party bash DJ by hit squad from 3 to 5″30 p.m.,” Federico told 27 News. “VIP ticket holders can enter the Tap That area starting at 4 p.m.. As a VIP enter this is when the general admission pre-party starts for everyone to get pre-checked in so they can enter the event right at 5 o’clock. After the bull rush through the gate by GA ticket holders, everyone is able to go around to our four sampling tents that we have to offer. The first tent is dedicated solely for our Kansas Brewers, and the other three are designated for our distributors who bring products from all over the country. We will have our Irish cover band Sloppy But Lucky starting their live music set from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.. With our headliner, Disco Dick & The Mirror Balls taking the stage at 7:45 and playing until 10 PM.”

This year, the brewery traveling the most distance to attend Tap That will be the Wichita Brewing Company (WBC). WBC is famous for their wood-fired pizza and their English Brown Ale, which won best beer at the World Beer Cup in 2024. Its seasonal beers in 2025 are the Oztoberfest German Lager, Hatfield’s Mama Kolch and Johnny B’s Beer Band.

“I would like people to know that this is still a charity beer festival that is put on to support our charity pic of the year which this year happens to be Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Federico said. “We will continue to put this event on to support local breweries, local vendors, local food trucks, and our local community. We are excited for the opportunity to host people from not just Topeka but all over our great state and show why downtown Topeka is a destination of the state.”

For more information and to buy tickets, you can check out the event page.

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