Corks will be popping, as Beaver Wine Festival returns
BEAVER − Sidelined two years by the pandemic, the Beaver Wine Festival returns Aug. 27.
"Tickets are selling like crazy," festival founder Mike Cirelli said.
From 3-7 p.m. on festival day, ticketholders can stroll around Third Street in Beaver, tasting wines from 14 Pennsylvania wineries. Each winery will pour from multiple points of their tent to ensure the tastings run as smoothly as a fine sauvignon blanc.
As always, ticketholders receive a commemorative tasting glass, a sturdy and reusable wine tote and a notepad and pen to jot down details on the wines they'd like to buy. There's a wine pickup service (three bottle minimum) so guests don't need to lug bottles with them throughout the event. Pickup service, on the street next to Huntington Bank, stops at 6:30 p.m..
Wine Fest tickets are $25 plus a $1.95 fee at eventbrite.com. Tickets are limited, so the event could sell out in advance.
"Everything is basically the same as it's been," Cirelli said. "It's as close to normal as normal can be in these crazy times."
One difference: No live bands or singers this year, as a deejay will provide the tunes.
Participating wineries: Courtyard Winery, Deer Creek Winery, Fitzgibbon Meadery, Gatehouse Winery, Glatz Wine Cellars, Greenhouse Winery, Heritage Wine Cellars, Kavic Winery, La Vigneta Winery, Pittsburgh Winery, R Wine Cellars, Starr Hill Winery, Webb Winery and Wine O' Clock Somewhere Winery.
Food trucks will include Smokin' Steer BBQ of Ellwood City and Papa Duke's, with Beaver eateries also an option.
More:What's cooking: Beaver Bagel and Rosalind Candy Castle has even more excuses to visit
After a two-year absence, the buzz is strong for this year's wine soiree, as always sponsored by the Beaver Area Chamber of Commerce.
"The pandemic has been so hard on people, so they're anxious to get back to normal," Cirelli said.
More:Jambridge: A day of live music, beer & community spirit on Merchant Street
Many former Beaver-ites schedule family reunions or visits home around the festival.
"We've had ticket buyers from California, Canada, New York City, Florida..." Cirelli said. "It's a very social event."
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Corks will be popping, as Beaver Wine Fest returns to downtown Beaver
