The animated flick Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, in all of its food orgy, glutton-worthy glory, helped spawn the idea for El Paso Burger and Craft Beer Festival, which takes place April 30 at Cleveland Square Park in downtown.
“I love burgers and I wanted to create an event that will bring people together to experience that same love,” said festival organizer, Cesar Alonso.
The idea came to Alonso after a long night of club DJing and a few drinks. Arriving home to chill, he flipped on the tube to see Flint Lockwood (for those of you who have lives and are not forced to endure this movie 50 million times because you’re kids freakin love it, Flint is the main character in Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) who’d been endowed with the godlike ability to convert water into all manner of delicious food, commanding burgers to rain from the heavens.
“The idea came to me about 4 years ago. After seeing that, I texted a friend of mine ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a burger festival?’”Alonso said. “A few days later I was talking to another organizer friend of mine and he told me ‘If anybody can do this event, you can’.”
Having a bit of festival-throwing experience under his belt already, Alonso decided to flesh out his burger party idea.
During a brainstorming session over some beers with a friend at Eastside’s Common Ground Beer & Wine Bar, Alonso, also a graphic-designer, began creating some logos for the event. The bar’s owner, who happened to be standing nearby, overheard the discussion.
“Danny came over to us and asked if we needed a bar for our event,” Alonso said. “We said, ‘Hell Yeah!’ and BAM—he jumped onboard and instant friendship!”
The festival will also serve as a best burger competition among some of El Paso’s top chefs. The following 10 restaurants and food trucks will compete for a Wrestle Mania-inspired Title Belt: Ruli’s International Kitchen, Steve’Os, Crave, Ode Brewing, The Hoppy Monk, Jonbalaya, Rooftop, El Chefe, Burger Theory and Just Fit Foods.
Four local celebrities will judge the burger competition. Organizers are also in the process of courting 2 celebrity chefs from the Food Network to participate as judges in the contest.
A People’s Choice Award will also be given out for the eating public’s choice of top burger.
In addition, what better accompaniment for fine grub than craft beer? With the help of Ben E. Keith Distributors, Burger Fest organizers have hooked up with craft beer gurus Alaskan Brewing, Odell, Deschutes Brewery, Real Ale, Deep Ellum, Saint Arnold, Breckenridge and Real Ale to offer a exceptional selection of brews.
“Each brewery is going to bring 5 beers so you can pair your burger with your choice of beer,” Alonso said. “So you’re getting top of the line beers and not an overwhelming amount of choices.”
Alonso has billed the festival as a family-friendly event. There will be plenty of kid-centered activities including Knockerball, an almost gravity-defying, round, plastic ball, in which you place most of your body, and go nuts, without getting hurt (hopefully).
“Yeah we’re on the same day as Sun City Beer Fest, but we’re billed as a family event,” Alonso said. “We’re a burger festival that includes craft beer; plus the admission’s only 5 bucks.”
Local bands will be on-site including El Paso mainstays, Fungi Mungle.
The event is sponsored by Back in Black Creative Services, Local Eyes With Green, The Hospitals of Providence and Western Technical College.
Part of the proceeds of the festival will go toward local non-profit, March of Dimes Foundation, a non-profit aimed at improving the health of mothers and babies.
“We’re excited to be part of this first annual festival,” said March of Dimes Executive Director, Sandra Gonzalez. “It takes a village to get women to their 39 weeks [of pregnancy], and have healthy babies. We’re happy to be part of this new village.”
March of Dimes will have 2 beverage tents set up at which they will sell Pepsi products. All money from drink sales will go directly to the organization.
El Paso Burger and Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, April 30, 12—10 pm
Cleveland Square
Tickets: $5; $10
Text: Denise Nelson Prieto | Photo: Alex Durán