Chocolate added to Bedouin Shrine wine and beer festival

Cathy Spaulding, Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
·2 min read

Feb. 20—Expect some new treats when Bedouin Shriners present their 21st Annual Beer, Wine & Chocolate Festival.

"This year we have a theme, it's called Party on the Plains," said festival coordinator Rory Robertson. "All of the vendors will be western attire, boots and hats. We encourage our patrons to do the same. It's going to be more fun filled, and festive. In the past, it was kind of stuffed-shirt."

The festival will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Bedouin Shrine Temple.

This year's festival also adds chocolate delicacies to pair with the beverages.

Nanette Portera of Nanette's Home to Yours said she will offer homemade German chocolate cake, as well sell her cookies.

There also will be a chocolate fountain where people can dip various fruits and sweets.

Breweries include Muskogee Brewing Co., 405 Brewing of Norman and BierKraft of McAlester.

Area wineries will be well represented, including Muskogee's Pecan Creek, Okay's Backroad, and Cookson's Blind Luck. Other popular wineries include OkeOzark in Salina, On the Lamb of Stigler, Wakefield near Stuart, Summerside/Coal Creek in Tuttle, Arribin Hills of Owasso.

"Everybody will be invited to partake of the antipasta — grapes, meats, cheeses and baguettes," Robertson said.

Muskogee Art Guild will have art on display.

"All this is 100% to fund the Bedouin Shrine Temple." Robertson said. "We use our money to keep the building operating, buy vans, keep them up and running."

Bedouin Shriners transport children to 22 hospitals and burn centers across the United States.

"If they happen to be burned, a lot of our burned children have to go by air ambulance," Robertson said. "We have to pay for that. No expense to any child or parent."

Shriners Hospitals offer health care, regardless of ability to pay, for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.