Sanford Pints n' Paws Returns March 28 for 14th Year of Craft Beer, Dog Fun

Sanford's longest-running signature festival is closing in on a milestone. Pints n' Paws, the craft beer and dog-friendly fundraiser that has anchored Historic Downtown Sanford each spring since 2012, returns Saturday, March 28, 2026, for its 14th edition, with organizers reporting the event has officially raised $963,000 for local pet rescue organizations.

Event organizer Paul Williams says that number is the whole point. "Every pint poured helps us get closer to that million-dollar mark for our local rescues," Williams told the Sanford Herald. "It's a testament to the heart of the Sanford community and our love for our four-legged friends. Pints n' Paws isn't just a festival — it's a lifeline."

Williams said the mission has always centered on funding adoption programs and covering lifesaving medical care for animals in need. He added the cause is close to his heart because he has witnessed firsthand how hard the rescue community works behind the scenes.

The festival is free for the public to attend and will feature more than 70 breweries alongside food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment throughout Historic Downtown Sanford. The event is also dog-friendly, meaning four-legged attendees are welcome. Note that the complete event schedule, including the confirmed start time and end time, had not been published at time of writing; attendees should verify hours with organizers before heading downtown.

For those looking to upgrade the experience, General Admission Sampling tickets are $50 in advance or $60 on the day of the event. VIP Sampling tickets run $100 in advance or $110 at the gate and include access to an air-conditioned lounge, a limited-edition event t-shirt, a commemorative pint glass, a koozie, snacks, appetizers, and access to a full bar.

Homebrew club Brewers Anonymous, which describes itself as a group focused on the art of Zymurgy, will have a tent at the festival pouring what the club calls once-in-a-lifetime brews. Their lineup will include Butterbeer Seltzer, and visitors to the Brewers Anonymous tent can pick up an exclusive event button called "BA Brew Pup" while supplies last. The club, which meets on the third Friday of each month at 7 p.m., also lists the event's cumulative fundraising at over $600,000 on its website, a figure that differs from the $963,000 total cited by the Sanford Herald; the source of the discrepancy was not immediately clear.

With nearly a million dollars directed to local rescues over 14 years, Pints n' Paws has become something beyond an annual outing in Sanford. As Williams put it, the festival is a lifeline for the animals and organizations that depend on it.