Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival

Thank you to those who joined us for Bass, Brews & BBQ in conjunction with the 2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series!

See what was said about the event ...

2023 Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival in Macomb County
Metro Parent, July 2023

Bass, Brews & BBQ Festival joins bass fishing tournament at Brandenburg Park
Macomb Daily, July 2023

A guide to the Chesterfield Bass, Brews & BBQ Festival
Fox 2 Detroit, July 2023

Joey Cifuentes III wins Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake St. Clair
Fox 2 Detroit, July 2023

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Location

Event: Brandenburg Park, 50050 Jefferson Avenue, Chesterfield, MI 48047

Parking: Anchor Bay Middle School South, 48650 Sugarbush, Chesterfield, MI 48047

Parking: Lottie M. Schmidt Elementary School, 33700 Hooker, Chesterfield, MI 48047

Fishing Tournament

The Bassmaster Elite Tournament will take place Thursday, July 27-Sunday, July 30. Fishing takes place from 7AM-3PM daily. Weigh-ins are hosted each day starting at 3PM. This international tournament is invitation only for qualified anglers. Guests are invited to visit the shoreline and fishing pier at Brandenburg Park to view the exciting event. The event will also be broadcast live at bassmaster.com and select Fox Sports stations.

Event Fees

Entry to the Bass, Brews, & BBQ Festival is free for all ages, including parking and shuttle transportation. Individual vendors may charge fees for food, beverage, goods, and services. Sales for the beer tent will take place at the designated beverage stands.

Parking

Free parking is available during the Bass, Brews, & BBQ event offsite at Lottie Schmidt Elementary School and Anchor Bay Middle School South. The parking lot at Brandenburg Park is by permit only. Handicapped parking is available at both offsite parking lots, as well as the Brandenburg Park lot. These spaces will fill first come, first served. Plenty of additional parking is available in surrounding business lots including the Kroger Parking Lot and Grace United Methodist Church, providing easy access to Brandenburg Park.

Shuttle Transportation from Parking Lots

Passenger shuttles with handicapped capabilities will be running for the duration of the event between Brandenburg Park, Lottie Schmidt Elementary School, and Anchor Bay Middle School South. Shuttle rides are provided free of charge thanks to SMART transportation. Shuttle service is available Friday and Saturday 11AM-1AM, Sunday from 11AM-6PM. Limited courtesy golf carts are available to assist with transportation within Brandenburg Park. See attached map.

Traffic Notes

Traffic on Jefferson Avenue and surrounding neighborhood streets near Brandenburg Park will be increased during the Bass, Brews, & BBQ Festival, July 28-30. Alternate routes are suggested when possible.

Food and Beverage

Outside food and beverage is not permitted. Onsite will have vendors selling a wide range of cuisine from food trucks as well as ice cream, beer, pop, and water available for sale. No outside alcohol will be permitted at any time. Food service is Friday and Saturday from 12PM-12AM, Sunday from 12-5PM. Espresso 911 will be serving breakfast during the fishing tournament from 5:45-9AM.

Food Trucks include Big Bo’s BBQ, JJ’s Fish and Shrimp, Chicken Headz, Bubba’s BBQ, Scalici’s Pizza, V’s Barista, Slaw Dogz, Rory’s Creations, and J&W Ice Cream on Wheels, and Espresso 911.

Permitted Items

Permitted entry: bags, backpacks, strollers, wagons, water bottles, chairs, blankets, personal umbrellas, cameras. All items subject to search at entry.

Not permitted entry: coolers, tents, tables, bicycles, scooters, motor vehicles, drones, outside food and beverage including alcohol, fireworks, firearms not covered by concealed carry, drugs.

Strollers, wagons, backpacks, etc. are subject to search upon entry.

Animals, Service Animals

Dogs or pets of any kind are not permitted at Brandenburg Park during the Bass, Brews, & BBQ Festival. Registered service animals are welcome. ADA approved Service Animals providing specific physical assistance for approved disabilities will be permitted.

Solicitation

Sales, solicitation, and distribution not approved by event organizers are prohibited within the Bass, Brews, & BBQ event areas, including designated parking lots. No placement of signs, distribution of materials, solicit contributions, attempt to obtain petition signatures, or affixing handbills to automobiles will be permitted.

Weather Plans

In the event of inclement weather including thunder and lightning, festival activities will be delayed or canceled. Follow the Chesterfield Township, MI Facebook page for up to date cancellations. Onsite, the Chesterfield Public Safety team will be communicating to all event guests for the best course of action.

Emergencies and First Aid

Chesterfield Public Safety will be onsite in the southwest corner of Brandenburg Park, 50050 Jefferson in a Mobile Command Center. If a guest needs medical care or is having a medical emergency, visit the first aid tent near the Public Safety Command Center. Event organizers and volunteers will be onsite to help assist guests who are unable to make it to this location.

Disruptive behavior, threatening violence, or any acts that endanger others should be reported to the Chesterfield Public Safety team. Event organizers will be onsite at all times, but do rely on the assistance of guests to identify emergency situations that require immediate attention.

Chesterfield Public Safety can be contacted through event staff, walk-up to the Command Center, or by calling 911 to speak with the dispatch team. Please share your exact location using well-known landmarks of the park (ex. Splash Pad, by food trucks, or in the paved parking lot). Lost child reunion is at the Command Center.

Fireworks Location

A fireworks show will showcase on Friday, July 28 at dusk. The show is expected to begin around 10PM. rain date is Saturday, July 29. Any rain cancellations will be announced on the Chesterfield Township, MI Facebook page. Fireworks will be set off at the end of the fishing pier at Brandenburg Park. There is not a bad seat to view the fireworks in Brandenburg Park.

Beer Tent

At the Bass, Brews, & BBQ Festival, the beer tent will be open Friday and Saturday from 12PM-12AM, Sunday from 12-5PM. Last call will be announced onsite on the stage. Upon entry to the festival, a valid photo ID is required to receive a wristband that will qualify for purchase of beer tent tickets. Wristbands can be obtained at one of three welcome booths. These booths are located at the parking lot entry, as well as the north and south bike path entry points. A guest must be 21 years of age or older to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.

Cornhole Tournament

The Bass, Brews, & BBQ Cornhole Tournaments will be held on Saturday, July 29 at 12PM. Pre registration is required, with no onsite registration. Individual registration is available at parks.chesterfieldtwp.org, ending Thursday, July 27. Two cornhole tournaments will be available; a social tournament for ages 13 and up and a competitive tournament for ages 16 and up. Each player is guaranteed four games with the first two being round robin, the second two with a paired partner. The winning team will take home a cash prize and receive a trophy.

Volunteering

Event organizers will rely on the help of volunteers to continue smooth operations of the Bass Brews, & BBQ event. Volunteers ages 16+ may register using the below link to sign up for a volunteer shift. All volunteers will receive a lanyard, event badge, and safety vest.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084cada72aa1f5c16-bassmaster#/

Boating Information

Brandenburg Park does not have transient docks available for use, therefore, no access via watercraft. The Brandenburg Park boat launch and kayak launch will be available to the public through Wednesday, July 26. These launches will close from Thursday, July 27-Sunday, July 30. Boating around Brandenburg Park will be permitted during fireworks night, Friday, July 28. There will be a perimeter established to maintain a fall zone from the display. Be diligent to adhere to Chesterfield Public Safety direction during this evening event.

Park Amenity Variation

Use of park amenities will be suspended or subject to a change in time during the Bass, Brews, & BBQ event. Park entry is free for utilization of available amenities.

Friday, July 28; Splash Pad 12-8PM, sport courts closed, pier closed after 5PM, boat launch closed.

Saturday, July 29; Splash Pad 12-8PM, sport courts closed, boat launch closed.

Sunday, July 29; Splash Pad 12-7PM, sport courts closed, boat launch closed.

Event Hours

Beverage Tent: 12PM-12AM Friday and Saturday, 12-5PM Sunday

Kid Zone: 12-8 Friday and Saturday, 12-5 Sunday

Cornhole Tournament: 12PM Saturday

Food Trucks: 12PM-12AM Friday and Saturday, 12-5PM Sunday, Breakfast truck 5:45-9AM during fishing tournament

Vendor Area: 12PM-10PM Friday and Saturday, 12-5PM Sunday

Bassmaster Elite Fishing Tournament: 7AM-3PM Thursday-Sunday