ilani BrewFest returns Feb. 21–22 with grand tastings, chef demos, Oyster Open

A blast of hops, shellfish and stage smoke will return to Ridgefield when ilani Resort & Casino stages ilani BrewFest across two days, Feb. 21–22, 2026, with three Grand Tasting sessions, celebrity chef demonstrations and the 6th Annual Oyster Open. The event will spread through ilani’s Meeting & Entertainment Center and ballroom spaces, showcasing “hundreds of beers, seltzers, ciders & spirits” from regional and national makers and a Pacific Northwest food focus.

The Grand Tasting runs three sessions: Saturday Session One 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday Session Two 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., each with standard tickets priced at $59 and designated driver tickets at $20. The Sunday Session is 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with standard tickets at $49. Standard Grand Tasting tickets include 24 drink sample punches for tasting across vendor booths in the Meeting & Entertainment Center.

Two intimate pairing tastings bookend Saturday’s sessions. Tequila & Taco Bites is scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the Cowlitz Gathering Room; standard tickets are $60 and include six drink sample punches, or grab the Grand Tasting Session One Combo Ticket for $99. Bourbon & Bites follows Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in the Cowlitz Gathering Room with the same $60 standard ticket, six punches and a $99 combo option with Session Two.

Celebrity chef programming is stacked on the main stage with Chef Alex Belew leading regional chefs; Vindulge’s Mary Cressler and Sean Martin are listed among the demonstration participants. ilani’s Grand Tasting promo copy invites attendees to “Sip and sample hundreds of beers, seltzers, ciders & spirits. Celebrate the Pacific Northwest with delicious food available for purchase from a variety of vendors.” A Sip Shop will also give guests the chance to buy select beers offered during events.

The Oyster Open returns as a highlight of Sunday’s festivities, billed in promotional copy as “ilani BrewFest Oyster Open returns for the sixth consecutive year!” The competition pits shuckers against the clock to “open and present two dozen oysters the quickest to win a share of prizes.” ilani’s official schedule lists the Oyster Open at 4:00 p.m. in the Cowlitz Ballroom, though other promotional listings previously showed a 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. window; promotional copy adds that “Guests are encourage to watch and cheer on their favorite shucker to close out the BrewFest celebration.”

Tickets for 2026 events are available through ilani’s event pages, with historical listings also showing Ticketmaster as a prior sales channel. Per ilani’s site, “All event attendees receive $10 in Promo Play upon entry.” Local vendor mentions in event materials include New School Beer + Cider, and Vindulge posted on social media that it will be at ilani Brew Fest Saturday and Sunday, aligning with the three Grand Tasting session times.

ilani Resort & Casino sits on the Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield about 15 miles north of the Oregon border and offers nearly 400,000 total square feet, including roughly 100,000 square feet of gaming space, nearly 3,000 slots, 75 gaming tables, 15 restaurants and a 2,500-seat meeting and entertainment venue. The two-day festival’s official schedule and ticket details are posted on ilani’s event listings, which list six event entries across the weekend: three Grand Tasting sessions, Tequila & Taco Bites, Bourbon & Bites and the Oyster Open.