For the second straight year, Downtown Salisbury will come alive during the first weekend in August as part of the Summer Sip Craft Beer Tasting Crawl.

The tasting crawl, hosted by Downtown Salisbury Inc., will be Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For the first time, the event will also include a second day of festivities. On Saturday, Downtown Salisbury Inc. will host the inaugural Summer Sip Festival from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday’s tasting crawl is scheduled to include craft beers from more than 24 breweries at a total of 36 downtown shops. Each location will carry a different beer brand. Trolley service will be offered for attendees.

“It’s unprecedented. We’ve never expected or had that many merchants,” said Downtown Salisbury Promotions Director Mollie Ruf. “It’s something we’re excited about.”

Saturday’s festival will feature the Salisbury band Wayward Reason and various beer samples.

Salisbury-based New Sarum Brewing Company will have the largest number of beer varieties — 11 — for attendees, said company Co-owner and Brewmaster Andy Maben. Samples available will include the company’s five core varieties. Maben said New Sarum will also show off limited edition varieties.

New Sarum uses Rowan County as the inspiration for its beer varieties. New Sarum’s 142 Blonde Ale with Grits, for example, is named after the number of alcohol licenses were granted by Rowan County between 1753 and 1772. The Roundhouse Robust Porter is taken from a building at the N.C. Transportation Museum.

“Our main goal is to produce a beer that’s not like anything you could find in the market,” Maben said. “You should hopefully be able to taste what Salisbury is all about in one sip.”

New Sarum is in the midst of renovations to a building on North Lee Street. Maben said this weekend’s festival is an opportunity to show the public New Sarum’s product before the company’s new facility has a grand opening.

Tickets for Friday’s and Saturday’s festivities are still available through Downtown Salisbury Inc., Ruf said.

Tickets for Friday’s Summer Sip Tasting Crawl are $15 per person. The price of a ticket includes a two-ounce commemorative tasting glass, samples at 25 locations, a wristband and walking map.

Saturday’s event goers will pay $30 per ticket, per person. A Saturday ticket includes a five-ounce commemorative tasting glass, unlimited samples during festival hours, wristband and two raffle tickets for drawings. Summer Sip T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Designated drivers can purchase a ticket to Saturday’s festival for $10, which includes an event wristband and four raffle tickets.

A combination ticket for both days is $35.

For more information, visit DowntownSalisburyNC.com or call Downtown Salisbury Inc at 704-637-7814.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.