I'm guessing they want to cater to families like mine, where one parent has an annual pass, the other has a fun card, and the kids have fun cards/preschool passes. I have several friends with families who also do this. Now, I don't know that I will actually attend this year, but I do know in years past the only reason I haven't attended Passholder Appreciation Weekends is because I'm the only one with an annual pass. Now, yes, I realize that is because my family is cheap and we aren't going to pay for more than one annual pass. I'm the only person in my family even mildly interested in Howl-o-Scream and I haven't even been to that in a few years. We are the summer and Christmastown types. I do like the idea of Bierfest though and if we can fit it in our fall schedule I would love to go with my husband.
So yes, the BierFest won't cater to kids, but their parents will be able to go. I imagine those two weekends in September prior to Howl-O-Scream are pretty light in crowds.