After nearly three decades of dedicated service, Jeff Norman—affectionately known as the “Brewfest King”—will retire from his role as Chair of the Kennett Brewfest Committee following the 28th annual event on Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Norman shared in a Facebook post on June 10, “Yes, the upcoming Kennett Brewfest will be my last. Don’t look at your calendars, it’s not April 1. This time it is the real deal. And it’s the right time for others to take the reins, provide fresh insights, and make The Kennett Brewfest better than ever moving forward for many more years to come. I’m still the Head Honcho for this one last time.”
Created in 1998 by the Kennett Square Revitalization Taskforce, now known as Kennett Collaborative, Kennett Brewfest has become one of the region’s largest, longest-running, and most prestigious craft beer festivals. Since its humble beginnings launched as an add-on to the Mushroom Festival, the event has grown in size, scope, and impact under Jeff’s leadership—welcoming hundreds of brewers and thousands of fans from across the region, and raising millions of dollars to support community programs in Kennett Square.
“Jeff has poured his heart, soul, and thousands of volunteer hours into Brewfest,” said Kris Gabbard, Chair of Kennett Collaborative’s Board of Directors. “When my husband and I moved to Kennett Square 20 years ago, Brewfest helped us feel connected to this wonderful community. Thanks to Jeff’s leadership and vision, countless others have felt that same sense of belonging—through Brewfest and through the community programming it funds year-round. We are so grateful.”
Beloved in the craft beer community, Jeff’s impact extends far beyond Kennett Square. He has championed Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware brewers, nurtured industry connections, and helped fuel the growth of craft beer culture across the region.
Although Jeff will be stepping down from his role on the Brewfest Committee, Kennett Brewfest and its sister event, Winterfest, will continue for many years to come as key pillars of Kennett Collaborative’s community programming.
“We’re committed to honoring the Brewfest legacy Jeff has created and ensuring that the event continues to be its very best each year going forward,” Gabbard concluded.
The Brewfest King’s parting advice: “Do something worthwhile for your community. No matter how large or small, make where you live a better place, give of yourself, have passion for a task and dive right in. I was probably just lucky with The Kennett Brewfest. It was the right event, place, and time. I had zero event planning skills but I had a desire to help my community and an innate sense of what would work. Then I immersed myself in it. The fact that it was fun didn’t hurt.”
Tickets to Kennett Brewfest on October 4, 2025 go on sale Tuesday, July 1 at kennettbrewfest.com.
Jeff Norman, the “Brewfest King,” has been leading the committee that organizes Kennett’s beloved festival for nearly 30 years. Photo by Dylan Francis.
