The 10th iteration of BrewSki is set to take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday along the James C. Frenette Recreational Trails near the Tupper Lake Golf Club, at 141 Country Club Road. This year’s running is being nicknamed “The Big LeBrewski” — in reference to the iconic 1998 “The Big Lebowski” film. Dressing in theme is welcome.

BrewSki features a 1.5-mile set of groomed cross-country ski trails between 21 unique brewery stations, as of press time Thursday evening. Participants can ski, snowshoe or walk between the stations as they sample each establishment. There will also be around 20 fire pits — which are being built and stocked today.

The event is open to all, although participants 21 or older who wish to sample the beer must purchase tickets in advance. There is a cap of 1,350 on the number of tickets available — an increase from recent years.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, there were only 88 tickets remaining — a number almost certain to shrink the closer the clock ticks down to the event — according to Town Councilman John Gillis, who, along with a dedicated crew of trail volunteers, has devoted an extensive amount of time helping prepare for BrewSki.

Larry Callaghan of the Leroy’s Auto team putts a tennis ball at the Tupper Lake Lion’s Club’s Fire and Ice Golf Tournament in February 2023 as Rick Skiff and Bauer Callaghan look on. Their team won the tournament with a score of 21. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Gillis said the event has sold out year in and year out, and would not bet against the same happening this year, even with the increased pool of tickets.

“There may be some day of, but it’s best to order in advance,” he wrote in a text message to the Enterprise.

Tickets cost $35 per person and are available for purchase, as long as the cap has not been hit, at tupperlake.com/events/brewski. The website also contains more information about the event, including a complete list of breweries participating in the event, which has grown mightily since 2017, when it was just seven, according to Gillis.

Admission is free for non-drinkers. Those with drink tickets need to have either a screenshot of their purchase or the confirmation email. People also need to bring a valid form of identification containing their date of birth. I.D. checks commence at 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

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A banner year

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Gillis was stoked when asked what the trail conditions were shaping up for BrewSki this year, which had been hampered by a lack of snow and balmy conditions in recent years.

“They are fantastic,” he said. “Absolutely fantastic. And the town highway crew and the town rec department have just nailed it. We are in such good shape.”

Weather conditions for Tupper Lake on Saturday are expected to feature mostly cloudy skies with a high of 26 degrees Fahrenheit and a light westerly breeze between 6 and 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service’s Burlington, Vermont office, which serves Tupper Lake.

Gillis expected around 2,000 BrewSki participants when factoring in kids and designated drivers. Pets are welcome at the event as long as they are leashed and under control. Organizers are asking owners to make sure their furry friends are both crowd-friendly and cold-weather tolerant when considering bringing them.

Parking for the event will be along one side of Country Club Road, with cars asked to drive up, turn around and park facing down the road in the direction of Big Tupper Lake. Additional parking behind the country club is available. Gillis thanked crews for clearing snow and widening parking spaces for the event.

“The highway department has just been stellar and the grooming crew and the rec department — everyone’s pulled together,” he said. “It’s a big team effort.”

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Fire and Ice Golf Tournament

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The Tupper Lake Lions Club will host its annual Fire and Ice Golf Tournament in conjunction with BrewSki. The tournament also begins at noon on Saturday and takes place at the same location.

The annual tournament uses tennis balls hit through the snow instead of golf balls and challenges participants to two rounds of five-hole scrambles, with the best score between the two rounds counting. Prizes are up for grabs for the top-scoring teams.

The golf tournament is a separate registration, with a cost of $30 for teams of three. Proceeds from the event directly benefit the club’s community activities throughout the year. Day-of registration is available inside the pro shop. Check payment should be made out to the Tupper Lake Lions Club.

Throughout the event, tickets for a 50/50 raffle event will be on sale in the pro shop. The drawing is slated to take place following the tournament at 5 p.m. at Lakeview Lanes and Foul Line Sports Bar, located at 1939 state Route 30.

For more information on the golf tournament, visit tinyurl.com/42u8xhpc.