Trigger Agency Events & Promotions

The least user friendly site EVER! They never sent me an email confirmation or any way to look over and double check the dates of the events I’ve purchased. There is no way to use the confirmation code that they generated for you either.

Trigger Agency puts on a whole slew of recurring events around the country. This review is for the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival recently held at the Timonium Fairgrounds, which was not organized very well. We bought VIP passes for early admission, and while there was a long line of people waiting for the Regular admission time, it had only been open for two hours and it seemed like there were thousands of people inside already. One member of our party was a Designated Driver, so was given coupons for a whole two free sodas. Refillable cups were handed out for unlimited bourbon shots, but they only give out two drinks to Designated Drivers? Given how much the price of admission was, I’d expect the food to be included as well, but that had to be bought from individual vendors. We opted for the Founder’s Feast, which did have a lot of good meat on it, including a beef rib that would not have been out of place on top of Fred Flintstone’s car. The bourbons they offered were good, and they did turn me on to an especially good one I’ll have to look for. Ultimately, this event was not worth the price of admission.

This was my 2^nd year going to the Beer and Bourbon Festival in The Tunnel. The Grand Poobah session was a real treat. The lines were very efficient. The ALL-​YOU-​CARE-​TO-​TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon is a little dangerous but a great deal. If I am free I will certainly go back next year.

I couldn’t find any other place to rate the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ festival at the Maryland Fairgrounds. I know this is the same festival that they run at National Harbour. I’ll say this… it was ok.
My husband and friends really enjoyed the options. I guess for the Friday night VIP ticket price I thought there would have been more. The free dinner was meh. The BBQ was good but all you got was bbq, bread, slaw and chips. We bought hush puppies from one vendor which were very good.
I guess maybe it was the layout which I found to be strange. One room had more vendors, drinks and food options, then there was the center area with food and a few vendors and then another room that was basically empty. Two rows of vendors. I just would’ve done it differently.
And it was COLD. I doubt the cow palace is a heated facility anyway but given how cold it go last night, I walked around with a sweatshirt on all night. So, you are cold and looking frumpy while half dressed girls walk by promoting. But that’s a personal thing.
The only high point was that my friend left her purse at the table where we ate and it was safely found at the lost and found with all her cards, ID and money.
Def not a place for kids.

One of many events produced — The Harbor Holiday Festival was poorly planned. $ 25 for a family 4 pack and $ 12 for each additional person then $ 5 for parking or wait for the shuttle. There were 100+ vendors but it was a mish mash of sales type seen on TV ad merchandise like hand cream for $ 60 a jar, electric massage node type machine for $ 300+ and random exhibitors asking you to sign a card for a drawing to win something like filling out a card in a mall.
It would have been a perfect small community sponsored craft fair held in a school gym with FREE admission but certainly not worthy of a Harbor hosted event. It was held under a tent, little to no holiday decorations, and for the admission price the flimsy bag and half cup of hot chocolate is not worth the price.
They offered entertainment and it was a sad display of musicians on a stage playing in the emptiest part of the tent to a crowd of about 5. This company charges a lot for very little. I’ve been to other events at the Harbor and should have learned my lesson then. If you want to produce an event similar to a true Christkindlesmarkt — which from the looks of other events produced I’m assuming that was the goal — then try actually replicating the atmosphere of those type of events. Try going to
for ideas.

I was sooo disappointed with the Crab & Beer Festival. Sharon was absolutely correct. It was horrible!!! I have been to the Trigger Agency’s Beer, BBQ, & Bourbon Festival and their Oktoberfest. Both events were major FUN! I raved to my friends about the events. However, I don’t know what went wrong with this event. Normally, you pay $ 85-​$ 75 for VIP, which gives access to the VIP tents (special drinks/​shots, snacks, bathroom) and you get all you can «taste». You are recognized by a different color band than the general pop, so the vendors can recognize you. Umm, this time we all had on the SAME COLOR BAND! WHAT THE??? Regarding the crabs, some folks were standing in line for like 2 hours. Are you kidding!!! How is that all-​you-​can-​eat? You definitely weren’t getting back in line! The only saving grace is if you wanted beer, you could purchase a plastic pitcher for $ 15 and get refills for free (again standing in a long line). Tsk, tsk! Shame on you, Trigger Agency!

Trigger Agency is responsible for the Maryland Crab and Beer Festival that takes place at the National Harbor along with other events. They are a rip off. I wouldn’t pay them to plan a 3year olds birthday party. The event was poorly planned. I paid $ 75 for a VIP ticket that got me nothing but some warm beer in a little glass. I did not have any crabs because of the lines. We did try but after 3 hours of standing in the heat, its just not worth it. We looked like cattle corraled and left to stand in line for food and drink. I would never give this company another dime and I suggest you don’t either.