2025: 5th Annual Craft Sake Festival: Showcasing the Best of North American Sake, Hot Springs, AKNEW

Welcome to the largest gathering of the North American sake industry in beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas. This event will feature brewers and their sake from coast to coast. Organized by the Sake Brewers Association of North America, a non-profit dedicated to the growth of the sake industry, this festival promotes and protects North America’s sake brewers, their sake, and the community of sake enthusiasts.

Important
The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM with free admission, followed by the American Craft Sake Fest from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, which requires a ticket for entry.

American Craft Sake Fest
Main Event: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Festival Dates: April 11-13, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Included with Ticket
• Event entry from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Live entertainment on the main stage
• Taiko drummers
• Sample sake from more than 12 breweries and over 30 styles of sake
• Meet sake brewers and connect with other sake enthusiasts
• Explore a diverse array of locally crafted goods from community artisans

Why is the Festival Three Days?
While the main public sake tasting event is on Saturday, April 12, the festival spans three days to include industry-related activities and networking opportunities.

Friday, April 11: Industry-focused events, including a field trip, sake course, vendor setup, cocktail reception, and sumo competition.
Saturday, April 12: The main festival day, featuring a speaker series, sake tastings, live entertainment, and competitions.
Sunday, April 13: Event breakdown and a Day at the Races (planning TBD).

Tentative Agenda

Friday, April 11
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Field trip to Origami Sake, Cypress Creek Milling, Isbell Farms
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM: WSET Level 1 Award in Sake Course (Ballroom D)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Vendor booth set-up
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Industry cocktail reception
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Sumo competition

Saturday, April 12

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast (Ballroom D)
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Speaker series (Hot Springs Convention Center)
Open to SBANA Members, VIP, and Sponsors
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Late vendor set-up
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Speaker series and education sessions
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: VIP early access
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM: American Craft Sake Fest
6:00 PM: Welcome, sponsor recognition, Taiko drummers start tasting
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Sake tasting tent open to the public
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Live entertainment and DJ
9:30 PM: Competition winners and awards announced
10:00 PM: Brewer hangout after hours

Sunday, April 13
9:00 AM: Event load-out
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Day at the Races (planning TBD)

Festival Highlights
• 20 sake brewers
• Entertainment throughout the day on the main stage
• SBANA Merch Tent
• SBANA VIP area in the sake tasting tent
• “Ask an Expert” table with rotating brewers

Sake Competitions
North American Competition
Open International Competition
People’s Choice Voting

Tickets
$55: In advance
$65: At the door
$150 VIP: Early access, sumo tickets, industry welcome party, speaker series, VIP tent, special sake, and food