When we got word of what was planned for the 2015 edition of the Southern Cigar Festival, we knew there was something very special about this event. The combination of a world class venue, the best of the best of the cigar industry, and a host of amenities providing true southern hospitality easily put this as THE “must go” cigar event for 2015. It is our honor at Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks to partner with the folks behind this event and bring you everything you need to know about this event.

Tickets are currently on-sale at Ticketmaster and at Cutter’s Cigar Emporium for the Southern Cigar Festival. The Festival takes place on Saturday June 6th and will be the largest cigar event ever to be held in the State of Georgia. The Southern Cigar Festival brings together 30 cigar manufactures from nine different countries. The event is being held at a world class venue, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Encore Park.  Today we take a closer look at what this venue is all about.

The Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park is located in Alpharetta, Georgia. Alpharetta is about 25 miles north of downtown, Atlanta. Primarily used as a concert venue, it opened on May 10, 2008 with a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Since then, it has hosted some of the biggest names in music and entertainment including: The Allman Brothers Band, Bob Dylan, Boston, Chicago, the Eagles, Earth Wind and Fire, Journey, Phish, Rush, and Rod Stewart. It has also remained a “home venue” for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

The venue itself is situated on a 45 acre piece of land.  The venue holds up to 12,000 people. There is a covered roof area that seats 7,000 and this is surrounded by a what is referred to as the “Superior Lawn”. This provides a park-like setting that is landscaped with tress and can hold an additional 5,000 people.

The roof is perhaps the signature structure of the venue. It has a fan-shape that is made up of a translucent cloth-like material supported by a steel-framed structural system. The large area under the roof makes it possible to host the Southern Cigar Festival rain or shine.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Roof

The venue has a “Grand Stage” under the roof. This will be the home to two live bands. There will also be a DJ playing music throughout the event.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Stage

There is an area called the Plaza that provides a variety of concession stands serving food as well as beverages. The Plaza is located just beyond the general admission entrance gates as you come into the venue. There will be a live band playing as you walk into the venue to enhance to overall experience as guests enter the festival

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Plaza

The VIP Reception area will be located in one of the plaza areas.  There will be a separate entrance to the VIP area.  We have additional details of the VIP area in our previous Southern Cigar Festival Preview installment.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Boxes VIP Area

A unique feature of the Southern Cigar Festival is the Private VIP Box option. This allows a group such as a cigar club or a retail shop to sponsor their own private space at the venue. The box comes with 6 to 10 comfortable chairs as well as a table. Each box will be adorned with a “reserved sign” with the group’s name. The boxes even contain a button that can be pressed to obtain table service – something very unique to a cigar event.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Boxes

For guests planning on coming in from out of town for the festival, there are two recommended hotels within 5 miles of the venue. Cutters Cigar Emporium, the retail shop behind the event is also less than five miles away and in very close proximity to the hotels.

The video below also provides additional information on the venue and the event itself:

Latest Event News

Free Cigar with In-Store Ticket Purchase

In addition to tickets being available through Ticketmaster and the Amphitheatre box office, they may be purchased directly at Cutters Cigar Emporium retail shop (5530 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta). Those customers wishing to purchase at Cutters will receive a free cigar upon purchase of their ticket. Customers will save the $20 fee (that Ticket Master charges) plus get free cigar that is valued at $15.

Additional Platinum Sponsors

The Guayabera Lady and the Big Green Egg have joined as Platinum Sponsors of the event (for which Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks are a part of). There will be a BRAND NEW Big Green Egg grill raffled off at the festival. Make sure you have your ticket so you can win.

Be sure to see our full preview of the Southern Cigar Festival. Also, be sure to check out the event web-site for further details.  Be sure to also tune into Stogie Geeks for additional details. Next week we will be back with another installment of our preview series.

Photo Credits: Southern Cigar Festival Video