Submitted photoThe Fermentation Celebration — pictured here from a previous event — returns to Bend on Thursday.

Fermentation Celebration is Thursday

Here’s the number of the day: 29.

That’s how many local breweries and cideries — plus a pub and a homebrew group — will be participating in Thursday’s Fermentation Celebration in Bend’s Old Mill District.

Twenty-nine.

That’s a lot.

Fortunately, the Old Mill is a good-sized place, and six hours — the event runs 4-10 p.m. — is plenty of time to walk and then weave and then wobble your way through the shopping center as you move from tasting to tasting.

Entry to the third annual Fermentation Celebration is free, but if you want to drink, you must pay $20, which includes drink tickets and a commemorative pint glass, which you can use to sample all the tastes or to throw at anyone who gets between you and the tastings. Pint glasses will be available at The Ticket Mill from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday.

According to organizers, participating breweries will feature unique, experimental and limited-release beers, many available only at the event.

Participants include (deep breath): 10 Barrel, The Ale Apothecary, Atlas Cider, Below Grade, Bend Brewing Co., Old Mill Brew Werks, Bridge 99, Boneyard, Cascade Lakes, Crux Fermentation Project, Deschutes, Far Afield Cidery, GoodLife, Juniper, McMenamins Old St. Francis, North Rim, Oblivion, Platypus Pub, Rat Hole, Red Tank Cider, Riverbend, Shade Tree, Silver Moon, Smith Rock, Solstice, Sunriver, Three Creeks, Wild Ride, Worthy and the Central Oregon Homebrewers Association.

“Every year, the Fermentation Celebration keeps growing as our craft beer industry in the region burgeons,” said Noelle Fredland, marketing director for the Old Mill.

For more info, visit www.theoldmill.com and look under the “Events” tab.

— Ben Salmon