Arts & Entertainment

Cheers! Beer, Breweriana Descend Upon Florissant for the Weekend

The Brewery Collectibles Club of America Gateway Chapter hosts its annual Swap A Rama event Saturday.

Fans of beer memorabilia and history might be excited about the Swap A Rama event happening in Florissant this weekend.

The Brewery Collectibles Club of America’s Gateway Chapter hosts the two-day event at the Knights of Columbus grounds with more than 13 different states represented who cart everything from beer cans to neon lights. It is the 35th year for the event.

“Out interest is some collectio and teaching about breweriana,” Tom Fay, secretary for the organization, said. The BCCA is a worldwide organization based in Fenton, MO with a chapter in each state as well as 26 countries.

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Friday afternoon, vendors showcased all of their beer and brewing paraphenalia.

For Tim Schmidt, of St. Charles, it was a chance to get away. His home had been hit by a tornado during the May 31 storms in the metro area, and the swap a rama gave him a chance to relax and be relieved from the tension, he said. Schmidt brought some of his collection out, and he said he had a collection of 3,000 beer cans, which weren’t harmed in the storm.

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One thing that was crystal clear about the organzation and its events: it comes with a great camaraderie.

He said friends who traveled here from other states, such as Arizona and Ohio would be staying with him for the event, and he trusts that if he or his wife traveled to another state and found a member, they could have a place to stay or a helping hand.

For more information on the organization, check out its website or for membership infromation contact Tom Fay at tom.fay@hotmail.com.



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