Nampton’s Beer Festival brings craft beer, food, music and a lively outdoor gathering to the heart of Downtown Nampa. Held at Lloyd Square, the festival gives adults an opportunity to sample a variety of beers while enjoying one of Downtown Nampa’s biggest spring events.
You do not have to be a serious craft beer enthusiast to enjoy it. The relaxed setting, food vendors and downtown location also make it an easy evening out with friends.
Dates, hours, prices and participation rules can change from year to year. Check the official event page before attending.
Nampton’s Beer Festival is an annual craft beer event in Downtown Nampa. Local and regional beer selections are served in an outdoor festival setting at Lloyd Square. In recent years, the event has also included food vendors, music and a commemorative tasting cup.
The festival began in 2024 and has become part of Downtown Nampa’s spring event schedule. The 2026 celebration was the third annual festival.
Although admission to the most recent festival was free, beer tasting was not. Guests purchased a commemorative cup and tokens, then exchanged the tokens for beer samples. Advance purchases were offered to help attendees avoid a longer line at the event.
General admission to the most recent Nampton’s Beer Festival was free. Anyone who wanted to sample beer needed to purchase the festival cup and drink tokens.
The organizer encouraged guests to buy their cup and tokens online before the event to skip the purchase line. Prices and packages may change, so check the current festival information before purchasing.
Anyone drinking alcohol must be at least 21 and should bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The festival may use wristbands or another age-verification process at entry or before alcohol is served.
The beer selection changes, but the event is designed around sampling several craft beers rather than ordering from a regular bar menu. Your commemorative cup is used for the samples, and tokens serve as the event currency for beer.
The atmosphere is casual and social. Expect an active downtown crowd, outdoor seating or standing areas, food for purchase and music during the evening. Specific breweries, beer varieties, food vendors and entertainment are generally announced closer to the festival.
If there is a particular brewery or beer you hope to try, arrive earlier in the evening. Popular selections can run out before the festival ends.
The most recent festival was advertised as free to attend and open to all ages, but the primary focus is craft beer. Only adults age 21 or older with valid identification may purchase or consume alcohol.
Parents should review the current year’s event information before bringing children because admission policies and available activities may change. This is not a children’s festival, even in years when all ages are permitted to attend.
Food vendors have been part of previous Nampton’s Beer Festivals, making it possible to eat during the event. The exact food-truck and vendor lineup changes each year.
Eat before you begin sampling and continue drinking water throughout the evening. Anyone who does not drink alcohol can still attend, enjoy the food and spend time downtown, but the organizer has not yet published the next festival’s nonalcoholic drink selection.
Lloyd Square is an outdoor gathering space in Downtown Nampa near the Nampa Public Library and the downtown restaurant and business district.
Lloyd Square
1 14th Avenue South
Nampa, ID 83651
Because it is a downtown event, you can also visit nearby restaurants, shops and bars before or after the festival. Check individual businesses for their hours and age restrictions.
Street parking and public parking are available throughout Downtown Nampa, including the downtown parking garage. Spaces closest to Lloyd Square can fill quickly, so plan to arrive early and allow time to walk a few blocks.
Road construction, closures and special-event traffic patterns can affect access. Check the Downtown Nampa Association’s event updates before leaving home and follow temporary parking signs when you arrive.
Do not leave valuables visible inside your vehicle, and never leave your vehicle overnight where posted restrictions prohibit it.
Decide how you will get home before you begin drinking. Choose a designated driver, arrange a rideshare or have a sober friend or family member pick you up.
If you use a rideshare service, consider choosing a pickup point a short walk away from Lloyd Square. The streets immediately surrounding the event may be crowded at closing time.
Bring only what you can comfortably carry. Useful items may include:
Review the organizer’s current rules before bringing a chair, large bag, outside drink or pet. Event policies can change, and the outdoor space may become crowded.
When advance purchases are available, buying ahead can reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in line after you arrive.
An early arrival gives you a better parking selection and more time to explore the available beers before popular options run out.
Have a meal before drinking, visit the food vendors and alternate beer samples with water.
Beer samples can add up quickly, especially when several styles have a higher alcohol content. There is no need to try everything.
The Lloyd Square location makes it easy to include dinner, shopping or another downtown stop in your plans. If you visit a bar afterward, remember that its entry rules and hours may differ from the festival’s.
Nampton’s Beer Festival is generally held in late May. The most recent festival took place on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The next festival date has not yet been announced.
The festival is held at Lloyd Square, located at 1 14th Avenue South in Downtown Nampa, Idaho.
The most recent festival was free to enter. Guests who wanted to sample beer had to purchase a commemorative cup and drink tokens. Future prices and admission policies may differ.
The most recent event was promoted as open to all ages, but guests must be at least 21 and show valid identification to purchase or consume alcohol. Check the current rules before bringing anyone under 21.
The most recent festival used a cup-and-token system for beer tasting. Guests were encouraged to purchase the commemorative cup and tokens in advance. Check the current year’s purchasing instructions because the system may change.
Previous festivals have included food vendors or food trucks. The specific lineup is announced closer to the event.
The Downtown Nampa Association organizes the event and publishes ticket information and updates on its website and social media pages.
Visit the Downtown Nampa Association’s Nampton’s Beer Festival page for official announcements, cup-and-token sales and current event details.
Looking for more local festivals and community traditions? Visit our Seasonal Events in and Around Nampa guide to find annual events throughout the year.
