The 13th annual Forks, Corks & Kegs Festival returns to Deadwood on Friday and Saturday, April 10–11, bringing a weekend packed with wine tastings, craft beer samples, chef-driven appetizers and specialty dishes across historic downtown.
Hosted by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, the two-day festival invites attendees to explore multiple venues throughout the city while sampling regional beverages and creative cuisine prepared specifically for the event.
“It’s a big beer, food and wine event,” said Jesse with the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce in a recent interview. “You get to sample some of the best beers and wines around, and then also try some appetizers and some featured items from some of your favorite restaurants in Deadwood.”
Friday Night: Wine Around and the Appetizer Crawl
The festival begins Friday afternoon with registration at 2 p.m. at Deadwood Mountain Grand, followed by the popular Wine Around event from 5 to 7 p.m.
During Wine Around, participants travel between locations across downtown Deadwood sampling a variety of wines—many of them new or unfamiliar selections—while learning directly from winery representatives stationed at each stop.
“Each one of these wines will also have a rep on site,” Jesse explained. “They talk about the wines, so you can learn a little bit more about what you’re tasting as well.”
From 7 to 9 p.m., the evening continues with the Appetizer Crawl, featuring 15 participating businesses serving specialty small plates paired with beer or wine. Many of the dishes are created exclusively for the festival.
“It really gives restaurants a chance to make some fun appetizers—things you wouldn’t necessarily find on the menu,” Jesse said.
Saturday Highlights: Dine Around and Grand Tasting
The celebration resumes Saturday morning with the Dine Around, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This portion of the festival showcases elevated menu items crafted by local chefs, again paired with select beers and wines.
The format encourages guests to explore both familiar dining favorites and new restaurants they may not have visited before.
“It’s a chance for chefs in Deadwood to make some higher-end items for people to sample,” Jesse said. “You might discover something new—and who knows, your feedback might even help shape future menu additions.”
Saturday’s festivities conclude with the Grand Tasting beginning at 4 p.m. at Deadwood Mountain Grand. Considered the centerpiece finale of the weekend, the event gathers major distributors alongside smaller producers to offer a wide range of beverage samples in one location.
“You get to try some of their new product and some of your favorites as well,” Jesse said. “There’s all kinds of different things at the Grand Tasting.”
VIP Experiences and a New Event for 2026
Festival organizers are also introducing a new VIP feature this year: Smash Grapes, a blind wine tasting competition scheduled for Saturday.
VIP ticket holders will sample four high-end wines presented by representatives from each producer. Without knowing which wine belongs to which presenter, guests will vote for their favorite selection, and the winning label earns the title of “Smash Grapes Champion of the Year.”
VIP packages also include upgraded glassware and access to an exclusive Friday-night wine tasting at the Social Club.
A Long-Running Spring Tradition
Now in its 13th year, Forks, Corks & Kegs continues to draw strong crowds from across the Black Hills region and beyond. The festival’s mix of culinary creativity, beverage discovery and walkable downtown exploration has made it a signature spring event in Deadwood’s annual calendar.
“It has been going on for a while,” Jesse said. “A lot of people come out.”
Tickets for individual events and VIP experiences are available while supplies last. Festivalgoers are encouraged to register early and plan ahead to make the most of the weekend’s tastings and crawls across historic downtown Deadwood.
