‘This will go a long way for people who need it’

The 16th Annual Nashua River Brewers Festival will once again welcome Ginny’s Helping Hand & Food Pantry as its primary beneficiary on June 27 at Fitchburg’s Riverfront Park

FITCHBURG, MA – The Nashua River Brewers Festival will return for a 16th year – and its “Last Call” – on June 27 when more than two dozen craft brewers, three live music acts, three food trucks and hundreds of attendees pack Riverfront Park for a day of beer, wine, ready-to-drink cocktails, entertainment and fun.

Ginny’s Helping Hand & Food Pantry of Leominster will once again be the primary beneficiary of festival organizing committee Beers for Good after a $6,500 donation was made to the nonprofit – along with a $1,000 donation to Fitchburg Civic Days – from the 2025 event.

That giving brings to more than $109,000 that Beers for Good has donated to Central Massachusetts nonprofits since its inception in 2008.

“It really helps us do the work that we do every single day,” Ginny Helping Hand Inc. Executive Director Brandon Robbins said at the 2025 check presentation. “Without support like this, we couldn’t support the amount of people that we do. We have seen a huge increase in the number of people who we are serving – both from Leominster and from Fitchburg. And, as that number continues to tick up and tick up, we need to find more community partners to meet the need in our community.

“Without events like this, we wouldn’t be able to do that.”

Representatives from Ginny’s Helping Hand will be at the festival to share the nonprofit’s mission of providing essential resources and support to individuals and families in need, fostering a stronger, more compassionate community. 

Robbins said Ginny’s served more than 60,000 people across North Central Massachusetts – mostly from Fitchburg and Leominster – in 2024, with about a 10 percent increase each month year over year in 2025.

“The festival was a great opportunity for us to get the word out about the services that we provide to people who might need it,” he said. “We are really appreciative of the festival for choosing Ginny’s to partner with us because this will go a long way for people who need it.”

Volunteer members of Beers for Good made a formal check presentation to Robbins and Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia for Civic Days at Fitchburg City Hall following last year’s event.

“A huge thank you to Beers for Good, where I accepted a generous donation to Fitchburg Civic Days from the proceeds of this year’s 15th Annual Nashua River Brewers Festival at Riverfront Park,” Squailia said. “Beers for Good, the awesome volunteer team behind the festival, continues to live up to their name: using craft beer to support our community good.

“Thank you to everyone who attended, poured, volunteered, and supported our home festival tradition.”

The 2026 “Last Call” festival on June 27 will do it up one more time with craft brewers from throughout New England, three food trucks, and both local and returning favorite bands of the fest.

The Nashua River Brewers Festival is thrilled to welcome Our So-Called Live Music to the festival stage this year, along with the return of Boston ska-punk favorite Pink Slip for a second straight year, as well as Worcester-based two-time headliner Michael Kane & The Morning Afters.

Bay State Brewing will bring both their beer and their fabulous food truck to this year’s event along with Fitchburg’s Social Dough pizza and festival staple The Grateful Dog out of Ayer.

This year’s event begins at 1 p.m. with a “last call” at 5 p.m. 

Tickets are $35 both online and through our partner ticket vendors in advance and $45 the day of the event. Full 4 oz. pours and a 2026 commemorative glass are all included in the admission price.

There is a $20 designated driver ticket for those who want to enjoy the day of music, food, and excitement at the park.

This year’s event marks the end of an era after 18 years of efforts to raise money for important local causes, to educate the public about the great variety of craft beers in this region, and to attract people to the city of Fitchburg.

Beers for Good volunteers are looking forward to welcoming both Fitchburg residents and visitors from across the region to one of the premier events of the year at the city’s Riverfront Park one last time on June 27.