The 3rd Annual GOAToberFest Will Feature Goat Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, S’mores, & of Course Goats
Perhaps the cutest and most cuddly fest to take place in October is back. The 3rd Annual GOATotberFest will take place at Laurel Hill West Conservatory (225 Belmont Ave, Bala Cynwyd) on Sunday October 6th from 3 pm to 5 pm. Guests can expect an evening with plenty of games, signature cocktails, snacks, live entertainment, and of course plenty of goats.
For beer lovers, this year’s festivities will feature a new custom GOAToberFest branded beer in partnership with Triple Bottom Brewery. In addition GOATobterFest will also be welcoming comedic theatrical Drag Queen Dominique Lee for a special live performance.
Organized by the nonprofit The Philly Goat Project, this fundraiser will be packed with engaging activities including goat art raffles and historic cemetery tours. Spend the afternoon with Philly Goat Project’s 13 beloved goats, sip on signature cocktails, sample tasty snacks, play yard games, and enjoy s’mores by the fire pit. Attendees aged 14 and older are welcome to attend.
GOAToberFest guests will be the first to see and purchase the signature 2025 Goat Calendar, which features the goats posing at iconic Philadelphia landmarks like the Philadelphia Orchestra’s stage at the Kimmel Center and Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Shirts exclusively made for GOAToberFest will be available for purchase designed by local artist M. Dougherty, a multidisciplinary artist specializing in scent art and olfactory research.
New at this year’s event is a very special GOAToberFest beer partnership with Triple Bottom Brewing, a woman-owned craft brewery and Certified B Corp whose mission is to create fair chance, long-term, living wage jobs for people who have experienced homelessness or incarceration. Triple Bottom Brewing will be rebranding their signature Oktoberfest Crunch Beer with a Philly Goat Project GOAToberFest label done by a local artist Jessica Kat Miller, and it will be available exclusively at the fundraiser. Guests can enjoy the special beer at the event as well as purchase four packs to take home with them with 50% of proceeds going to the nonprofit. The timing is perfect for this partnership because Triple Bottom Brewing has just launched the Future of Service Apprenticeship Program — a paid, 16-week training program for
people impacted by the justice system or housing insecurity to develop valuable job and life skills and secure quality jobs in Philly’s hospitality industry. Philly Goat Project is excited to support their mission and share the special commemorative beer cans with attendees.
For cocktail lovers, the featured signature cocktail will be a twist on the Midori Splice called the Ray Ray in honor of Ray the goat. Ray is named after Raymond Pace Alexander, a lawyer who became the first Black judge to be appointed to the Common Pleas Court and the president of the National Bar Association. He is buried in Laurel Hill West Cemetery.
Costumes are highly encouraged, with both Oktoberfest and Halloween-themed outfits welcome. There will be special prizes for the best costumes.
“The secret is out. Philly Goat Project is so much more than just goats; it’s our city’s G.O.A.T. nonprofit providing essential programs to the region, and GOAToberFest is the opportunity for everyone, new and old, to help support us while having the time of their lives,” says Karen Krivit, Philly Goat Project’s Director. “We are so honored to have won the hearts of so many throughout Philadelphia who recognize our mighty program for what we actually do — create a space for everyone to belong, to be well, to be kind, and to be a part of something bigger. We’re very excited to celebrate Philly Goat Project’s community and achievements at GOAToberFest this year. We hope you will join us.”
Proceeds from GOAToberFest support the vital programs of Philly Goat Project, including early literacy, environmental education, animal-assisted therapy, community wellness, teen job skills training, and a new bereavement support initiative. The event is possible with support from Philly Goat Project’s community partner, Laurel Hill. Together, they offer a tangible way to talk about sustainability – in both life and death.
Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at phillygoatproject.org/event-details/goatoberfest-2024. The event will take place rain or shine. Join us at Laurel Hill West Conservatory located at 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 19004, for a day of fun, community, and of course, goats. It’s going to be the G.O.A.T. event of the season.
