The Capitol City Carnival is a new beer-and-music festival that's trying to capture the spirit of the now-cancelled Old Dominion Beer Fest, and looking at the lineup, it might even better it. Fifty breweries are bringing pairs of beers to taste, and the lineup includes a lot of smaller labels to explore -- Penn, Bluegrass, Lancaster, Southhampton, Great Divide -- as well as heavy hitters like Bell's, Delirium, Bear Republic, Dogfish Head and Clipper City. Then there's the music, which features the legendary George Clinton and P-Funk, California skate-funkers Fishbone and raucous rockers Southern Culture on the Skids. More entertainment comes from burlesque dancers and sideshow performers.

Admission includes four drink tickets, each good for a four-ounce sample. Designated drivers pay $5 less per day, and get free coffee and soft drinks. Children are admitted free on Sunday.

Organizers are running a shuttle service to and from the Vienna Metro station. Tickets are $22. See the Festival's Web site for more information.

If you're heading out to Bull Run Saturday to see P-Funk and Fishbone, your best bet is to take the Party DC/On Tap bus. That way you can have as many beers as you want! Buses leave Clarendon Grill at 1 and should get back after 11. The $49.99 ticket includes festival admission, transportation and four beer samples. Act fast, because space is limited.

-- Fritz Hahn (September 2007)