Events

Mocktails and More

Stay hydrated this summer with the best nonalcoholic beers, mocktails, and botanical libations around at a new alcohol-free tasting event at The Morton Arboretum.

Content Detail

Spend a refreshing summer day at The Morton Arboretum and learn about the innovative companies that are transforming the traditional happy hour with safer, cleaner, and healthier options. Sample a variety of premade mocktails, botanical concoctions, CBD-infused beverages, and much more while enjoying classic rock covers from The Beaux.

Event Details

Please note that Mocktails and More is for attendees older than 21 and is held in Arbor Court, The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden, Meadow Lake Path, and Frost Hill. View the Accessibility Guide for more information.

The Morton Arboretum welcomes Chicago AF, a nonprofit organization and community that began with a group of individuals with a common desire to live life alcohol-free.

Learn how to make delicious alcohol-free beverages at home! Attendees are invited to register for Mocktail Making with Three Spirit and Avec, a one-hour, hands-on workshop. This course requires separate registration, and is not included with the purchase of Mocktails and More festival tickets.

Ticket Details

Tickets include admission to the Arboretum, a souvenir tasting glass, and unlimited tastings of nonalcoholic beverages, including custom brewed beer, wine, spirits, and mocktails that contain less than 0.5% ABV.

Guests: $55
Members: $45

Children may attend the event, but must have a general admission ticket. Adults who wish to attend without tasting must purchase Arboretum general admission tickets.

Your ticket purchase helps support the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

Participating Vendors

Table 1 The Morton Arboretum Store
Lisle, IL
Mother Shrub’s Vanilla Hickory Pear Lemonade

Tables 2 and 3 AVEC
New York, NY
Blood Orange and Jalapeño (GF) (VG)
Fuji Apple and Cardamom (GF)(VG)
Hibiscus and Pomegranate Ginger (GF) (VG)
Passionfruit and Mango (GF) (VG)
Yuzu and Lime (GF) (VG)

Tables 2 and 3 Three Spirit
London, England
Blurred Vines Sharp (GF) (VG)
Blurred Vines Spark (GF) (VG)
Livener (GF) (VG)
Nightcap (GF) (VG)
Social (GF) (VG)

Table 4 Spiritless
Austin, TX
Margarita (GF) (VG)
Old Fashioned (GF) (VG)
Whiskey Sour (GF) (VG)

Table 5 Revolution Brewing
Chicago, IL
Super Zero Sparkling Hop Water

Table 7 One of One Wine Co.
Walnut Creek, CA
Sparkling White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Sauvignon

Table 8 Parch Spirits Co.
Tucson, AZ
Desert Margarita (GF) (VG)
Prickly Palomas (GF) (VG)

Table 9 Curious Elixirs
Marlboro, NY
Curious Elixir No. 1 Pomegranate Negroni Sbagliato (VG)
Curious Elixir No. 4 Sicilian Spritz with Blood Orange (VG)
Curious Elixir No. 6 Coconut Pineapple Painkiller (CN) (VG)
Curious Elixir No. 7 Champagne Cocktail (VG)
Curious Elixir No. 9 Rosé Cocktail (VG)

Table 10 Best Day Brewing
Sausalito, CA
Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza
Hazy IPA
Kölsch
West Coast IPA

Table 11 ALLAY
Waltham, MA
Functional Non-Alcoholic Cabernet Sauvignon (VG)
Functional Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc (VG)

Table 12 The Pathfinder
Seattle, WA
The Pathfinder Hemp and Root Spritz (GF) (VG)

Table 13 Pause Sparkling Water
Lombard, IL

Table 14 Grüvi
Denver, CO
Bubbly Rosé (VG)
Golden Lager (VG)
Juicy IPA (VG)
Sangria (VG)

Table 15 Ritual Zero Proof
Chicago, IL

Table 16 Marz Community Brewing Co.
Chicago, IL
Citrus Party Botanical Seltzer
Dank Magic Hazy IPA with Coffee
Hop N’ Honey Water
Rosé Spritz

Table 17 Recess
New York, NY
Ginger Lime Mule
Grapefruit Paloma
Lime Margarita
Watermelon Mojito

Table 18 Chicago AF
Chicago, IL

Table 19 Mash Gang
Chicago, IL
Beyond the Pines Hazy IPA
Council Pop IPA
Stoop Lite Lager

Table 20 Go Brewing
Naperville, IL
Beer for Breakfast mocktail
New School Sour Pineapple
Sunshine State Tropical IPA (CL)
Suspended in a Sunbeam Pilsner

Table 21 Visitor
Chicago, IL
NA Lager (GR) (VG)

Table 22 Casamara Club
Detroit, MI

Icon Key

CL–contains lactose  CN–contains nuts  GF–gluten-free  GR–gluten-reduced  VG–vegan

Mocktail Making Workshop

Learn how to make delicious alcohol-free beverages at home! Attendees are invited to register for Mocktail Making with Three Spirit and Avec, a one-hour, hands-on workshop led by expert mixologist John Brown. Workshop participants will learn bartending tips, tricks, and techniques while crafting delicious alcohol-free beverages inspired by two classic cocktails.

This course requires separate registration, and is not included with the purchase of Mocktails and More festival tickets.

Food Options

Food trucks will be on-site for the duration of the event, weather permitting:

  • Savory Crust
  • Flyin’ Hawaiian
  • Str8up Bussin

Frequently Asked Questions

Accordion List

  • Yes, each participant will receive a souvenir tasting glass.

  • Yes, The Beaux will be performing classic rock covers for the duration of the event.

  • Yes, food trucks will be on-site for the duration of the event, weather permitting:

    • Savory Crust
    • Flyin’ Hawaiian
    • Str8up Bussin
  • Yes, guests can enjoy access to the Arboretum until sunset.

  • Alcohol-free beverages are expensive to produce due to the costly ingredients and the advanced industrial and artisanal techniques required to create a high-quality beverage.

  • This event is intended to introduce adults to mindful drinking and the healthier beverage choices that exist. Reducing alcohol intake directly correlates to improved health and overall well-being, and the awareness of alcohol-related health risks is growing.

  • No, Designated Driver tickets are not available for this event.

  • Yes, children are welcome to accompany 21+ adults to the event but must have a separate general admission ticket on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

  • Adults who are not participating in the tasting may accompany a ticketed attendee to the event, but will need to purchase general admission for Saturday, June 22, 2024.

  • Although this event will have unlimited tastings, there will be no additional samples available for purchase.

  • The Morton Arboretum welcomes Chicago AF, a nonprofit organization and community that began with a group of individuals with a common desire to live life alcohol-free.

    Chicago AF is led by volunteers. The organization’s purpose is to facilitate sober connection and redefine sobriety’s social scene in the Greater Chicago area. Members of this community advocate for increased alcohol addiction awareness and the normalization of living alcohol-free.

    Sign up for the Chicago AF mailing list to join the community and receive alerts about Chicago AF events and activities.

  • ABV is alcohol by volume. ABV is a measure of alcoholic strength. The amount of ethanol (alcohol) in a container is shown as a percentage of the overall volume of the drink.

  • Yes, nonalcoholic products may contain a trace amount of alcohol. While there is no absolutely safe level of alcohol consumption, many countries, including the United States, legally consider beverages that contain 0.5% ABV or less to be alcohol-free. Many foods contain a similar amount of alcohol, and intoxication from consuming these beverages is virtually impossible.

    Foods that contain alcohol include ripe bananas (0.2–0.4% ABV), breads (1.18–1.28% ABV), fruit and fruit juices such as grape, orange, and apple (0.04–0.5% ABV), and yogurt and kefir (0.05–0.2% ABV).

  • This is a highly personal decision up to each individual. Drinks with a trace amount of alcohol can be triggering for certain individuals. The consumption of these beverages while in recovery from alcohol addiction should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

  • There is no known safe level of alcohol intake in pregnancy. The consumption of trace amounts of alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

  • The FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in any form while pregnant or breastfeeding. The consumption of any beverages containing additives should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

  • Yes, these options will be identified in the program.

  • Yes, the ABV of the beverages will be noted in the program.

  • Yes, these products will be identified in the program.

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