Fledge Fest 2025: Birds, Beer, and a Whole Lot of Heart
Family, friends, and lovers of feathered companions — this one was for you.
This past Saturday, Triple Crossing Beer – Fulton transformed into a lively celebration of conservation, community, and craft for our first-ever Fledge Fest, presented in partnership with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
It was a day filled with bird education, splashes from the dunk tank, hands-on crafts and activities, and of course — the release of our brand-new beer collaboration with DWR: Fledging IPA. If you haven’t yet experienced this crisp, crushable West Coast-inspired IPA, it’s available now at all locations.
Taking Flight
The afternoon kicked off with live bird shows hosted by EarthQuest, who brought a remarkable lineup of raptors that captured the attention of both kids and adults alike. Robert Haynes guided the crowd through close encounters with a vulture, a harris hawk, a barn owl, Rachel — a stunning peregrine falcon — and Storm, a massive condor with a wingspan over 10 feet. Look at that bird!
After the bird show wrapped, guests lined up for the dunk tank, taking their shot at soaking friends, Triple Crossing brewers, and guests — all to raise funds for DWR’s Restore the Wild Fund. With temps climbing, the dunk tank brought both relief and laughter to the crowd.
And if it wasn’t already hot enough, Big Red & the Cowboy Killers took the stage, and turned up the heat even more keeping folks dancing, cheering, and grabbing another pint of Fledging between bird shows and market strolls.
A True Community Effort
What made this event so special wasn’t just the birds or the beer — it was the people behind it all.
“Watching the community show up to support DWR and connect with the mission behind the event was honestly moving. It felt like everything aligned perfectly for this event, and I’m just so grateful to everyone who made it happen.”
– Savannah, Triple Crossing Production Manager
“Fledge Fest was the perfect way to celebrate all of the pieces of our collaboration coming together. It also feels like our work together is just beginning its own journey — just like this season's falcon chicks (cheesy anecdote acknowledged 😄). The event felt uniquely Richmond and encompassed each of our entities’ strengths in such a fun way!”
– Kelsey, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
To all the vendors, volunteers, DWR staff, Triple Crossing team, and every single guest who came out — thank you. You helped bring something really special to life.
- Your Friends at Triple Crossing Beer