Forks, Corks, And Kegs Festival In Deadwood, South Dakota
The Forks, Corks, and Kegs Festival is every year in April. We went for the 11th annual event in Deadwood this year and had a really good time. The cost in 2024 was $75.00 a person and it is a 2 day event where you can go as much or little as you choose. There are bars/restaurants throughout town where you visit and they give you appetizers and alcohol - wine or beer. On Saturday they have a huge event at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel and Casino where venders from all over let you sample their beverages. There is also some limited food at this event. I really enjoyed walking around and getting the samples at the different locations. Sometimes there were very long lines, but they went quickly. While walking around we also gambled here and there which was nice since it let our stomachs settle for a bit. The $75.00 I found was a little steep since we only went one day, and got free tickets as it was. If I was paying full price, I would definitely do both days and maybe stay the night at their discounted hotel rooms for the event.
Nice tickets we got.
The first thing you need to do when arriving at Deadwood is register at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel and Casino.
First stop was at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel and Casino. We had Southwest shrimp cocktail and wine at Dales.
Next stop was the Martin Mason Hotel and Lee Street Station - we had homemade barbequed pork on Hawaiian slider buns and beer.
We went to the Franklin Hotel and Legends Steakhouse for some shrimp sweet pepper pasta with wine.
Places to go on Saturday. We did not go to Deadwood Gulch or Cadillac Jacks. Also Jacobs Brewhouse didn’t have anything even though they were on the schedule. To get to the casinos off the strip they offer you a free trolley ride.
Next was the Midnight Star and Lil’s and we had angus beef and shitake mushroom won tons with key lime sweet and sour sauce and wine.
Gold Dust Saloon and Mavericks was next with alligator sausage, alligator tail and sirloin steak, and toasted veggies on a skewer with wine.
Bodega/Buffalo had shredded beef sliders with horseradish beer cheese sauce and beer.
Saloon #10 and Deadwood Social Club had crab cake with corn salsa and truffle aioli and wine.
Schedule for Friday night. We did not attend this.
At the Oyster Bar and A&B Pizza we had sausage and kraut and beer.
Map of the all places to go. They also give you a trolley schedule.
At the Badlands and Brothel Bar we had Thai chicken curry over rice and wine.
In between eating and drinking we gambled which was fun and it let our stomach settle.
Between 4 and 6 pm on Saturday we went to the grand tasting event at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino and Hotel. It was on the 2nd floor and had a lot of venders and some limited appetizers. It was pretty crowded but there were so many different beverages to experience. The lines were not that long and the people were very friendly.
Here are some of the free items I picked up along the way.