Enjoy Palestine's ninth annual Whiskey & Wine Swirl Saturday

Nov. 16—Palestine Main Street's 9th annual Whiskey & Wine Swirl is set for this Saturday, Nov. 18.

We are looking forward to our 9th Annual Whiskey & Wine Swirl this Saturday," said Mary Ann Admire, Palestine's Main Street Coordinator. "We are so grateful for the support from the downtown businesses and all of our sponsors in making this event successful each year. Many thanks to our sponsors for this year's event, especially our Grand Reserve Sponsor, Shelby Savings Bank."

Check in for this year's event is being held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Historic Palestine Event Center, 201 W. Crawford St. in Palestine. Participants will then enjoy a leisure afternoon strolling through nine downtown businesses while sampling Texas wines and whiskeys.

Each ticket holder will receive a complimentary six compartment wine bag for bottle purchases onsite from the wineries, and a commemorative event wine glass to take home.

"Because this is a very consumer-driven event, we have made some big changes based on our guest and vendor feedback to improve the ticket-holder experience," Admire said. "These were some tough, but necessary decisions, including moving the date to earlier in the holiday shopping season and reducing the footprint of the event area. But don't worry, we kept many of the things that you love about Whiskey & Wine Swirl, too.

Admire said when the tasting event concludes, ticket holders are invited to the Whiskey & Wine Swirl "Top It Off Reception" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Historic Palestine Event Center where they will enjoy music by Eli West, specialty vendors including 1502 & Sterne Cigar Co., and heavy hors d'oeuvres by Queen St. Grille.

Guests at the reception will also receive two complimentary beverages generously provided by Ben E. Keith and Roundhouse Package Store.

Zipps Liquor of Palestine has also kindly donated a bottle of Eagle Rare 17, bottled Fall 2022, to be raffled at the Top It Off Reception.

"We will draw the lucky winner at 7:30 p.m.," Admire said. "You do not have to be present to win, but it must be picked up locally."

Admire said the free trolley will return to the Swirl this year, with the first pick up at 1:30 p.m. on East Crawford St. across the street from St. Philip's Episcopal Church. It will run a continuous loop service throughout the event, with final return at the end of the reception at 8 p.m. to the E. Crawford St. stop.

"We invite you to come downtown early, do some small business Christmas shopping, eat lunch in one of our great locally-owned restaurants, and stop somewhere you've been meaning to go but never made time for," Admire said. "And after the Whiskey & Wine Swirl reception ends at 8 p.m., Old Town will be hopping with live entertainment so you can keep the party going."

Admire said this annual event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Main Street program's downtown beautification and preservation projects — the extras that municipal budgets can't always provide but make downtown a more attractive community space for our residents and visitors.

"Thank you for supporting this event and Palestine Main Street," she said.

For more information about the event, to purchase event tickets, or to purchase raffle tickets: www.visitpalestine..

You must be 21 or over to participate.

Whiskey & Wine Swirl is a trademarked event.