Cider Enthusiasts Gather at Navy Pier for 12th Annual Cider Summit Festival
The annual Cider Summit festival brought together cider enthusiasts and the curious to enjoy over three dozen ciders from more than 125 producers. Held at Navy Pier, the event offered attendees a chance to taste a variety of ciders, learn about their production process, and engage with experts in the field.
Founder Alan Shapiro noted that one of the most rewarding aspects of the summit is seeing attendees' reactions to the diverse range of ciders on offer. "Often, they're blown away by the wine-like elegance and finesse of some of the offerings and barrel-aged ciders," he said. The event provides a platform for cider producers to share their passion and expertise with others.
The Cider Summit is part of Chicago Cider Week, a week-long celebration of all things cider in the city. Founder Ambrosia Borowski has been attending the summit every year, citing its importance as an opportunity for cider enthusiasts to come together and learn from each other. "I love watching consumers really become elevated and knowledgeable about cider and bringing everybody else into this happiness that we've all found in cider," she said.
A portion of the ticket sales from this year's summit will be donated to Evolved Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that provides experiential programming for children through culinary arts and gardening. Sebastian White, owner of Evolved Network, expressed gratitude for the Cider Summit's support, stating that it helps keep his organization alive in its mission to support local youth.
The event also provided an opportunity for attendees like Deborah Mathis, a seasoned cider fan who has attended the summit five times before. While she noted that this year's attendance was manageable, she emphasized her admiration for the festival as a unique Chicago tradition that deserves more visibility.
The annual Cider Summit festival brought together cider enthusiasts and the curious to enjoy over three dozen ciders from more than 125 producers. Held at Navy Pier, the event offered attendees a chance to taste a variety of ciders, learn about their production process, and engage with experts in the field.
Founder Alan Shapiro noted that one of the most rewarding aspects of the summit is seeing attendees' reactions to the diverse range of ciders on offer. "Often, they're blown away by the wine-like elegance and finesse of some of the offerings and barrel-aged ciders," he said. The event provides a platform for cider producers to share their passion and expertise with others.
The Cider Summit is part of Chicago Cider Week, a week-long celebration of all things cider in the city. Founder Ambrosia Borowski has been attending the summit every year, citing its importance as an opportunity for cider enthusiasts to come together and learn from each other. "I love watching consumers really become elevated and knowledgeable about cider and bringing everybody else into this happiness that we've all found in cider," she said.
A portion of the ticket sales from this year's summit will be donated to Evolved Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that provides experiential programming for children through culinary arts and gardening. Sebastian White, owner of Evolved Network, expressed gratitude for the Cider Summit's support, stating that it helps keep his organization alive in its mission to support local youth.
The event also provided an opportunity for attendees like Deborah Mathis, a seasoned cider fan who has attended the summit five times before. While she noted that this year's attendance was manageable, she emphasized her admiration for the festival as a unique Chicago tradition that deserves more visibility.
? It made me wonder how this event could be more than just a fun gathering of cider enthusiasts - it could be a model for community building and civic engagement in Chicago! I mean, think about it, we have organizations like Evolved Network that need support to reach kids through culinary arts and gardening. Why can't the Cider Summit festival use its platform to raise awareness and funds for causes like that? It's not just about cider, it's about bringing people together and making a positive impact on our community 
. The fact that they're already donating a portion of ticket sales to Evolved Network is a great start, but we could take it further! 
, but can we talk about the layout for a sec? I mean, a 3-day fest with 125+ producers is a lot to navigate... some organization on the floor maps would be super helpful 
. Like, what's the most popular cider stations and where are the more obscure ones? Some sort of interactive map or even just clear signage would really elevate the experience 
. Not to mention, can we get a better flow between the tasting areas and workshops? It felt like I was jumping around between sessions all day 
. Just some minor tweaks could make this fest go from great to totally on point 
!
! like, i know some ppl might think it's weird, but idk, there's just somethin about sippin on a cold cider after a long day that hits the spot 
. and the fact that it's supportin a good cause, like Evolved Network, is just awesome 
. gotta love how passionate these ppl are about cider - i mean, i've had my fair share of wine, but ciders got me hooked too 
. can't wait to try some new ones next year! 
alan shapiro the founder says the most rewarding part is seeing ppl's reactions to all these amazing ciders 
i wish i could make it this year tho maybe next yr lol 
also can we talk about how amazing it is that they're supporting local orgs like Evolved Network? 
gotta keep cheering on these events & cider enthusiasts!!! 
And honestly, some of the ciders they had there were kinda meh, I mean, I know some ppl loved 'em, but I was expecting more complexity and stuff... 
, but maybe that's just cuz I'm a cider snob now? 
. Also, I'm not sure about donating to Evolved Network, I mean, I love supporting local orgs, but isn't the Cider Summit already doing its part by bringing ppl together and all that? 
. Now you've got Navy Pier hosting this huge Cider Summit Festival with over 125 producers? Crazy! It's awesome that they're supporting Evolved Network too, I mean who doesn't love kids learning about gardening and cooking? 
- Theodore Roosevelt 
It's awesome that a portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Evolved Network, it's great to see events like this supporting good causes 
. And what's up with all these events just being one big fundraising opportunity? I mean, I get it, Evolved Network is cool and all, but can't they just donate their own money instead of relying on event ticket sales? It feels like everyone's just trying to pad their own resumes instead of actually making a difference 
.
. Kudos to the organizers for supporting a great cause too 
. If you're into trying new things, this festival is a great chance to taste a bunch and see what you like best. 
Also, 125 cider producers? That's like, a lot of apples going to waste. Where are they all coming from? Are they just going straight into the ciders or is there some sort of apple surplus issue we're not aware of? 