Archive
Deep Creek festival benefits Red Cross
MCHENRY— Set for Friday through Sunday, the fourth annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, benefiting the American Red Cross, Western Potomac Chapter, will feature handcrafted works by local and regional artisans, wine tasting from several Maryland and national wineries, live music, children’s activities, wine pairing dinners, lodging packages and more.
“Fall is absolutely gorgeous in the mountains of Western Maryland,” said festival co-chair Vianne Bell. “Crisp, clean air, the rich orange and red hues of the season, and all of the outdoor activities make autumn one of the best times of the year to visit the area. The festival has grown in only three years to become one more reason to come to Deep Creek Lake this fall.”
The festival begins Friday night with area restaurants offering special wine pairing dinners. Uno’s, Pine Lodge Steakhouse, DC’s Restaurant & Bar, Silver Tree and Will O’ the Wisp will team up with national wineries to pair pre-selected wines with specially prepared dinner courses. The menus will be published in advance on www.deepcreekwinefest.com.
The festival will continue Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. More than 30 professional artisans and craftsmen will display and sell their art, from handcrafted jewelry and wood carvings to oil paintings, hand-painted furniture and accessories. National distributors and Maryland wineries will offer samplings of more than 200 wines, which will be on sale at the festival’s retail store until 7 p.m., with net proceeds donated to the Red Cross.
Children’s activities include face painting, balloon art, carriage rides, hair braiding and painting sections of a mural designed by artist and owner of the Stonebow Inn Riverside Bed & Breakfast, Julyen Norman.
Visitors who frequent the Deep Creek Lake area will have the opportunity to chat with locals who are elevated to a new status for the afternoon as they become the festival’s “celebrity pourers.”
Rounding out the afternoon is live entertainment by local and regional musicians and a silent auction that features donated wines, wine accessories, art and children’s gifts. Live entertainment includes music by Jimmy Flanigan, Dmitry Kubin, Brother Short and The Remedy.
Sunday brunch will be offered at participating restaurants.
“In three years, the festival has doubled in guests and activities,” said co-chair Paula Yudelevit. “We sold wines through a window the first year. Now we’ve developed an actual store with donated point-of-sale systems from Wisp Resort. The festival has become one of the most popular events in the county — it’s just so much fun.”
Tickets include entry fee, wine tastings and a commemorative wine glass. Admittance-only tickets are available and children 5 and younger are admitted free.
For more information, call (888) 387-5237 or log on to www.deepcreekwinefest.com.
