The Deep Creek Lake Art, Wine & Beer Festival returns on Saturday, September 8 to McHenry, MD with two added features: a craft beer tent and a football lounge. The festival is from noon to 6:00 pm at the Garrett County Fairgrounds.
The festival, held as a benefit for HART for Animals and the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF), begins Friday, September 7, with pre-fix wine pairing dinners at local restaurants surrounding Deep Creek Lake and the nearby vicinity. The popular dinners pair appetizers, entrees, and desserts with wines from Maryland, as well as wines throughout the United States. Menus for the dinners are posted on the event’s website at www.deepcreekwinefest.com.
More than 200 Maryland and national wines and twenty craft beers will be available for tasting. In addition, a selection of premium wines will be available for tasting in the Premium Wine Tasting Area. For an additional cost, guests will enjoy highly rated and estate-bottled wines, along with hors d’oeuvres in a private area in the Exhibit Hall.
The new craft beer tent will be located in the parking lot adjacent to the Exhibit Hall. Local, regional and national small craft beers will be available for tasting. The beers may also be purchased in the Wine & Beer Store, located in the Exhibit Hall.
Guests can also watch the college game of the week on a big screen TV in the new Mountain State Brewing Company/The Stogie Company Football Lounge. Ice cold tap beer will be on sale in the lounge and the Stogie Company will be offering their cigars in the Cigar tent immediately outside the lounge area.
Guests will also enjoy works by 40 local and regional artisans. Jewelry, pottery, oil paintings, hand crafted wood work and more will be featured. Food artisans include handcrafted cheeses, pasta, biscotti and other delectable food items.
“We are really excited about the newest additions to the festival” says co-chair Paula Yudelevit. “Now those that don’t drink wine can enjoy some great craft beers. And the new football lounge with beer and cigars is going to be a huge hit! Plus, the fairgrounds are a perfect location too – a very laid-back, grass-roots atmosphere.”
An online program for smart phones and other mobile devices allows patrons to view the wines and save their selections to a Favorite page will be available on Saturday at the event.
Advance tickets to the festival are $30 (which includes a service charge) online at www.deepcreekwinefest.com, and $35 at the entrance to the festival on Saturday, September 8. The cost includes entry to the festival, unlimited wine tasting, beer tasting, and a commemorative glass. Under 21 and entry only is $12 per person. 12 and under are admitted free. The Premium Wine Tasting Area is $30 per person and includes ten wine tasting tickets. Guests may purchase the premium wines in the main wine store. Guests must have an adult festival wrist band for admittance.
Art & Wine Festival lodging packages are available at participating hotels, B&Bs and resort rental agencies. The package includes entrance to the festival, wine tastings, a commemorative wine glass and lodging.
“A special thank you needs to go to our amazing sponsors,” notes festival co-chair Mary Callis. Sponsors include McHenry Beverage, Taylor Made Vacations & Real Estate, Mountain State Brewing Company, The Stogie Company, Simon Pearce, Oakland Oil & Propane, Arrowhead Market, Taco Bell, My Bank! First United, Shop ‘n Save, Little Mountain Promotions, NuWay Interiors, Deepcreektimes.com, Piet & Rosie Versteegen, Lake-Front Magazine, BB&T, and Archie’s.
“The festival could not be successful without an amazing committee,” says Paula. Mary agrees. “These volunteers put hundreds of hours into this event; a few have even worked on this since its inception.” The 2018 committee includes Mary and Paula as co-chairs, Eric Robison, Andy McKenzie, Michael Pellet, Ken Carbone, Judy Carbone, Ken Korando, Betty Ellington, Erin Croake, Tom Hertz, Jan Russell, Sue Arnson, Jimmy Flanigan, Joe Refosco, Rachel Dudok, Kelli Palamar, Lilian Steele, and Debbie Archer.
HART for Animals, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless pets in Western Maryland. Through a network of volunteers – individuals and rescue organizations – HART is able to rescue animals from the Garrett County shelter and give them a chance to find a permanent home. The HART Animal Center on Bumble Bee Road in Accident, MD, offers full-service veterinary services at the Bredel Veterinary Clinic, day and overnight accommodations at the Bed ‘n Bark Inn pet hotel, and grooming services at MUTTWorks Salon. The 12,000 square foot building was completed in April of 2016, with the addition of the HART Adoption Wing, where adoptable animals will never have to be euthanized.
Garrett Lakes Arts Festival’s (GLAF) primary purpose is to improve the quality and scope of performing arts for local residents and visitors to Garrett County. The non-profit organization considers high-quality performing arts to consist of nationally or regionally recognized professional artists in the fields of dance, music and theatre. Arts education provides elementary through high school students experiences that enhance their appreciation and understanding of performing and visual arts. GLAF’s mission is to present high-quality performing arts and provide arts education that appeals to diverse tastes, is affordable, and is suitable for all ages. A core of 22 citizens evolved from the originators, many of whom remained in leadership roles serving with dedication and distinction in the ensuing years.
For more information on the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, please visit www.deepcreekwinefest.com.