After we marched from McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Oregon Brewers Festival, the ceremonial keg was brought into the park by the Hammerheads from this year’s parade host brewery, McMenamin’s.

Hammerheads and the ceremonial cask.

The Hammerheads and the Ruby Witches McMenamins’ folks positioned themselves in front of the stage.

Then Art Larrance got things started.

This year’s parade host represented by Brian McMenamin, took the ceremonial hammer.

And passed it off to next year’s host, the Cascade Barrel House.

Then Grand Marshall Fred Eckhardt had a few words for the crowd, before tapping the first keg.

Fred, tapping the keg.

Fred drinking the first toast to OBF 2011.

Fred and me catching up with a pint after the ceremonies.