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Culinary Events in 2008
ALABAMAMother’s Day Lunch on the Porch. May 11. Special dinner offers with scenic view from top of Lookout Mountain. Mentone Springs Hotel. Mentone. 256-634-4040. tourdekalb.com. Low Country Boil. May 25. Array of fresh shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, pork tenderloin, corn soufflé, black-eyed pea cakes and homemade desserts. Live entertainment. Mentone. 256-634-4040. mentonespringshotel.com. Sand Mountain Potato Festival. July 4. Celebrate the rich heritage of agricultural products, including potatoes, with live music, arts and crafts, entertainment, games and fireworks. Henagar. 256-657-6282. DiscoverLookoutMountain.com.
GEORGIAA Taste of Athens. February 24. More than 50 food, wine, and beverage vendors. Silent auction items feature the work of local artists and merchants. The event is Community Connection’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the 2-1-1 Call Center which provides human services information and referrals. The Classic Center, downtown Athens. 706-353-1313. tasteofathens.com. $45. Classic City BrewFest. April 6. Live music and samples of more than 200 handcrafted beers. Proceeds benefit local charities. Foundry Park Inn, downtown Athens. 706-254-BREW. brewfest.net. 6th Annual Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games. June 14-15. Genealogy tent, Scottish vendors, pipe and drum bands, athletics, children’s activities, border collie demonstrations, Scottish harp workshop, Scottish fiddle workshop, Scottish dancing, music and food. Meeks Park, Blairsville. 706-745-5789. blairsvillescottishfestival.org. $10, or $15 for both days. 10th Annual Butternut Creek Festival. July 19-20. Arts and crafts, woodwork, oils and watercolors, stained and leaded glass, jewelry, demonstrations, live entertainment and food. Meeks Park, Blairsville. 706-781-1221. No fee. 5th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival. July 20. Dozens of varieties of locally grown heirloom tomatoes, fine arts and crafts, a tomato pie contest, children’s art contest and live entertainment. The Twilight Tomato Supper available. Glen-Ella Springs Country Inn, Clarksville. 706-754-7295. glenella.com. $5 admission, $30 Twilight Tomato Supper. Dillard Bluegrass and BBQ. August 1-2. Live bluegrass music, BBQ competition and auction. City Hall Ground, Dillard, GA. Mountain Marketplace and Heritage Festival. September 6-7. Mountain arts and crafts, music, live history activities, farm animals and children’s activities. The Life Center, Blairsville. 706-745-5493. Southeastern Bluegrass Festival. September TBA. Bluegrass music, workshops and food vendors. Downtown Blairsville. River Fest State Championship Barbecue Cook-off. September 12-13. Children’s activities, live music from jazz to classic rock and barbecue cook-off contest. Ingall’s Harbor. Decatur. 256-350-2028. decaturjaycees.com. $10 adults, $5 children 10 and under. Wild Edibles of Fall. September 27. Learn what edibles can be gathered in the fall in our area. Plant ID and preparation techniques will be covered. Pre-register. Helen. 706-878-3087. gastateparks.org. $5 plus $3 parking. Big Red Apple Festival. October 4. Hayride to historic train depot theater, apple bakeoff contest, horseshoe tournament, apple walk, food, wine and live music. Downtown Cornelia. 706-778-8585. No fee. Mistletoe Market and Sugar Plum Tearoom. November TBA. Arts, crafts, gifts and food. The tearoom will offer soup, sandwiches, salads and desserts. North Georgia Technical College, Blairsville. 877-745-5789. $2 donation at door.
KENTUCKY“Liar” Comedy Dinner Show. August 15-16. Buffet and comedy show by Bil Lepp, a preacher and five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest. Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill. 800-325-0059, cartercaves@ky.gov. $29.95 plus tax. Elk Night at Jenny Wiley State Park. September 15. Buffet dinner, nature and recreational activities. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonburg. 800-325-0142. kystateparks.com. No fee. World Chicken Festival. September 25-28. Contests, parades, live entertainment, crafts, fried chicken and 200 vendors. Featuring the world’s largest known stainless steel skillet. Downtown London. 800-348-0095. chickenfestival.com. No fee. Molasses Stir-Off at Potter’s Knoll. September 28-29. Pull, strip, grind and boil the sugar cane, then enjoy the molasses. Breaks Interstate Park, Breaks KY/TN/VA. 800-982-5122. breakspark.com. No fee. Buffalo Night. October 20. Buffet meal of buffalo meat, fried chicken, buffalo chili and assorted vegetables and desserts. Planned nature and recreation activities are available. Prestonburg. 606-886-2711. parks.ky.org. Historical Dinner Theatre at Cumberland Falls. November 29. A dinner and show with reenactments of historical events involving famous Kentucky figures such as Abraham Lincoln. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Corbin. 606-528-4121. kystateparks.com. $30.
MARYLANDMaryland Brewer’s Spring Fest. May 10. Live music and beer samples plus souvenir mug. Harry Grove Stadium, Frederick. 800-830-3976. mdbeerfest.com. $17 advance; $20 door. Deep Creek Art and Wine Festival. September 5-7. Participating area restaurants and gourmet shops will feature special dinner menus that include wine pairing courses, speakers from wineries and wine tasting. There will also be entertainment, artists and children’s activities. Garrett Country Fairground, McHenry. 301-387-4386. deepcreekresort.com. $20 for adults (21 and over); $5 for guests under 21; $2 for children. 28th Annual Koi and Wine Festival. September 6-7. Champion koi events, wine tasting, festival foods, arts and crafts vendors, boat rides, live music and free water gardening lectures. Lilypons Water Garden, Buckystown County. 800-999-5459. lilypons.com. Chili Cook-Off & Music Festival. September 20. Cash awards given in three categories: best overall chili, the people’s choice and chili booth display. Hagerstown. 301-791-6266. sunschilicookoff.com. $ Tea Time House Tour. October 4. A walking tour of more than a dozen homes in Chestertown’s historic district, named by the National Historical Preservation as one of 2007’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Chestertown. 410-778-3499. Fee includes afternoon tea at one of several heritage sites. Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt. October 18-19. Celebrating 250 years as a Frederick landmark, Schifferstadt was built by the Brunner family around 1758. Celebrate with food, arts, crafts and traditions including German hearth cooking, blacksmithing, broom-making and weaving. A traditional German Oompah band, authentic German beer, children’s activities and a used book sale. All proceeds will be used to preserve Schifferstadt and other landmarks projects. Frederick. 301-663-3885. FrederickCountyLandmarksFoundation.org. $3.
NORTH CAROLINANational Gingerbread House Competition & Display. November 13, 2007-January 6, 2008. Contestants from across the country bring their sugar-and-spice creations to Grove Park Inn. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Asheville. 828-252-2711. groveparkinn.com. No fee. 7th Annual Fletcher Chili Cook-Off. January 5. Open to individuals and local businesses; prizes and ribbons will be awarded. Veritas Christian Academies Cafeteria, Fletcher. 828-687-0751. historichendersonville.com. No fee. 13th Annual Maggie Valley Chili Challenge. March TBA. Live entertainment, the area’s best chili and lots more food. Diamond K Dance Ranch, Maggie Valley. 828-926-1686 or 800-624-4431. maggievalley.org. No fee. 12th Annual Kings Mountain Firehouse BBQ Cook-Off. April TBA. More than 50 BBQ competition cooking teams competing for more than $10,000 in prizes, vying for the title of State Champion. Kings Mountain Fire Dept., Kings Mountain. 704-734-0555. kmfire.com. No fee. Melange of the Mountains. March 27. A culinary gala of food sampling featuring area’s finest restaurant’s award-winning specialties, plus coffee, beer and wine tastings. Balsam Mountain Inn’s “Grand Old Room,” Waynesville. 828-456-3021. visitnc.com. $40. 2008 Wine Dinner Series. March, June and September TBA. Wine tastings featuring wines from some of the best vineyards around the country. Wine pairing with dinner. The Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Highlands. 828-526-8008. oldedwardsinn.com. $169. 3rd Annual Blue Ridge Wine Festival. April 10-13. Wine vendors from N.C. and beyond gather at Blowing Rock. Tastings, seminars, cooking classes and wine dinners. Fire on the Rock Chef’s Challenge. Blowing Rock. 877-295-7965. blueridgewinefestival.com. $ 2nd Annual Day of Wine and Roses. April 12. A day of wine, roses, food and music. Workshops and seminars on rose growing, wine tasting, winemaking and cooking with wine. Flower displays, games and vendors. Green Creek Winery, Columbus. 828-863-2182. greencreekwinery.com. No fee. Herb Festival. April 12-13. Live mountain folk and bluegrass music, dancing, pesto and bread making, arts and crafts and 20 vendors. Painters Greenhouse, Old Fort. 828-668-7225. paintersgreenhouse.com. No fee. 2nd Annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival. April 26. Live demonstrations by well-known blacksmiths, plus hands-on opportunities, food, music and a blacksmith art exhibition. Spruce Pine. 828-765-3008. sprucepine.org or spmainst@bellsouth.net. No fee. Strawberry Jam Festival. May TBA. Celebration of mountain music and agriculture. Pick-your-own strawberries, blacksmithing exhibitions, music, crafters and the Strawberry Café. Darnell Farms. Bryson City. 828-497-3476. vistnc.com. No fee. 5th Annual White Squirrel Festival. May 24-25. Crafts, food, live entertainment, contests and white squirrel collectibles. Downtown Brevard. 828-884-3278. brevardnc.org. No fee. 14th Annual Garden Jubilee Festival. May 24-25. More than 100 vendors selling plants, arts and crafts and food, plus garden clinics. Downtown Hendersonville. 828-693-9708 or 800-828-4244. historichendersonville.org. No fee. Chocolate Festival. June 7. Sample chocolate pastries, chocolates, chocolate martinis and more. Grove Arcade, Asheville. 15 Annual Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival. June 13-14. Non-stop rock, jazz and bluegrass music on two stages, carnival rides and midway games for children of all ages; the Foothills Craft Fair, beach bingo and a fireworks show. Harmon Field, Columbus. 36th Annual MayFest and Auto Show. June TBA. Food, arts and crafts, entertainment and children’s activities plus auto show. Historic downtown Rutherfordton. 828-278-2071. rutherfordtown.com. No fee. 11th Annual Taste of Scotland. June 14. All-day entertainment, clans, authentic Scottish foods, music, dancing, border collie demonstrations, crafts, children’s highland games and many other contests. Downtown Franklin. 828-524-7472. No fee. 15th Annual Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival. June 14-15. N.C. Governor Sanctioned State Championship BBQ Cook-Off. Food, more than 60 craft artists, live entertainment, rides and more. Harmon Field, Tryon. 828-859-6236. blueridgebbqfestival.com. $7. 49th Annual Pig Roast and Fireworks. June 28. Home-cooked North Carolina-style BBQ, music, dancing and fireworks. Downtown Beech Mountain. visitboonenc.com. 828-387-9283. $12 adults; $6 children 10 and under. 5th Annual Mountain Mater Festival. August 1-3. A fun weekend of crafts, antiques, live music and dancing. Historic downtown Canton. 828-648-8275. cantonnc.com. No fee. 62nd Annual North Carolina Apple Festival. August 29-September 1. More than 150 vendors line eight blocks of the main event area. Live entertainment, children’s activities, parade and street dance. Downtown Hendersonville. 828-697-4557. historichendersonville.org. No fee. 2nd Annual Green Creek Winery Grape Stomping Competition. August 30. Wine, food, games, vendors, music, winery tours and grape stomping. First place winners go on to compete in the World Grape Stomping Championship in Santa Rosa, California. Green Creek Winery. Columbus. 828-863-2182. greencreekwinery.com. Free admission. Competition tickets $10 per person. Organic Fest. September 13. More than 75 organic and green vendors with organic food and refreshments, organic beer and coffee and information on organic farming and gardening. Famous organic basket drawings will be displayed. Battery Park Avenue, Downtown Asheville. 828-253-2267. organicfest.org. No fee. Taste of Black Mountain. September 13. More than 12 dozen local restaurants provide samples of their specialties. Downtown Black Mountain. 828-669-2300. exploreblackmountain.com. $15 advance; $20 door. Brewgrass Festival. September 20. More than 30 American breweries showcase more than 100 different beers. National and regional bluegrass musicians and a variety of area vendors. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Asheville. 828-216-0508. brewgrassfestival.com. $25 advance; $30 door. 5th Annual Western North Carolina BBQ Festival. September 26-27. Delicious barbeque, beer, wine and arts and crafts. Cash prizes and trophies for BBQ contests. Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Maggie Valley. 828-926-1686. www.wncbbqfestival.org. Molasses Festival. October 11. Molasses making, live bluegrass, clogging, children’s activities, crafts and great food. Sims Country BBQ, Granite Falls. 828-396-2052. simscountrycloggers.com. No fee. Murphy’s 13th Annual Chili Cookoff. October 11. Competition for trophies for best chili based on public vote. Konehete Park, downtown Murphy. 828-837-2242. cherokeecountychamber.com. $6 for tasting. 20th Annual Apple Harvest Festival. October 18. Arts and crafts, live entertainment, local merchants, great food, bed and breakfast dessert tent and apples provided by the Haywood Country Apple Grower’s Association. Waynesville. 828-456-3021. North Hominy Apple Festival. October TBA. Choose from hundreds of homemade apple pies. Demonstrations and mountain country breakfast available. North Hominy Community Center, Canton. 828-648-5397. No fee. Bryson City Chili Cook-Off. October TBA. An annual event featuring teams of chili cookers competing for trophies. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Train Depot, Bryson City. 800-867-9246. greatsmokies.com. No fee. Shuckin’N Shaggin. October 18. Shrimp, chicken, oysters, live beach music and dancing. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE), Tryon. 828-859-6236. fence.org. $40. Hickory Ridge Homestead Apple Festival. October 25. Crafters from the local area and the region gather along with musicians to celebrate the apple harvest. Museum interpreters prepare apple butter in a large kettle over an open fire and ask passerby to help with the constant stirring. There are also hatchet throwing and apple pie eating contests. Horn in the West Complex, Boone.
SOUTH CAROLINAThe 12th Annual Anderson Soiree. April 25-26. A festival dedicated to food, art and entertainment; features booths by area restaurants and an art and antique walk. Downtown Anderson. 864-231-2200. andersonsoiree.org. Free admission. Food and beverage tickets sold. The 8th Annual International Wine Festival. June 7. Music, food and more than 100 wines from The Cazbah and Blue Ridge Brewing Co. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Downtown Greer. 864-241-9909. thecazbah.com/events.htm. $25 advance; $35 door. South Carolina Peach Festival. July TBA. Concerts featuring beach and country music, tractor rides, talent shows, food vendors and peaches. Gaffney. 864-489-5716. scpeachfestival.org. No fee. 47th Annual South Carolina Apple Festival. September 2-6. Celebrating the beginning of apple harvest season in Oconee County. Highlights include the Annual Apple Bake-Off. Westminister. 864-647-7223. westministersc.com. $12 adults; $5 children. 3rd Annual Southern Exposure. September 12-14. Exclusive tasting events, cooking demonstrations and wine seminars, multi-course dinners and live music hosted by restaurateur Carl Sobocinski and platinum-selling singer and songwriter Edwin McCain. Fall for Greenville. October 10-12. The three-day event features 43 local restaurants, a chili cook-off, waiter’s race, bartender mix-off, restaurant trivia challenge. Downtown Greenville. 864-235-5525. mainstevents.com/fallforgreenville.html. Free admission. $5 food and beverage tickets.
TENNESSEECinco di Vino. May TBA. Food, live entertainment and new wine features. Tennessee Valley Winery, Loudon. 865-986-5147. tnvalleywine.com. $20 in advance, $25 at door. Cosby Ramp Festival. May 4. Celebrating the ramp, an onion-like vegetable that grows in the mountains of east Tennessee. Bluegrass music, good food and crafts. Ruritan Club, Cosby. 423-623-1009. cosbyrampfestival.com. $5. Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass. May 16-17. Tennessee State Championship Barbeque Cook-Off, bluegrass concerts featuring music legends such as the Grascals and Ricky Skaggs, kids’ games, great food and authentic mountain crafts. Downtown Sevierville. 888-889-7415. bloominbbq.com. No fee. Strawberry Jam Festival. May TBA. Food, country music, paintball games, rock climbing wall, tethered hot air balloon rides, fireworks and strawberry jam. Maple Lane Farms, Greenback. 865-856-3511. berryjamfestival.com. $15. 28th Annual Taste of Tri-Cities. July 16-19. A part of Kingsport’s nine-day summer Fun Fest. Features local restaurant vendors and live entertainment. Live entertainment includes well-known performers such as Leann Rimes and Trace Adkins. Memorial Park, Kingsport. 423-392-8800. funfest.net. $ 4th Annual Homestead’s Apple Festival. August TBA. A festival honoring the original Homestead, a 10,000-acre farming community from the 1930s. Homemade apple butter, live music, quilt show, crafts and food. Cumberland Homestead’s Tower Museum, Crossville. 931-456-5699. cumberlandhomesteads.org. $2 parking fee. Smoky Mountain Table. August 24-26. A weekend of gourmet food and vintage wine. Blackberry Farm. Walland. 865-984-8166. blackberryfarm.com. $400 + lodging. 5th Annual Aussie Fall Fest Chillin’ & Grillin’. September 27-28. Fall festival featuring crafts, demonstrations, food court, dance stage, karaoke competition, kids’ zone, storytelling, Miss Fall Fest Pageant and chili, barbeque and wings cook-off. Downtown Greeneville. 423-638-4111. greenecountypartnership.com. Free admission. Tasting of the chili, barbeque and wings $3. Unicoi County Apple Festival. October 4-5. 350 arts and crafts vendors, food and two stages of live entertainment. Erwin. 423-743-3000. unicoicounty.org. No fee.
VIRGINIAWintergreen Winery Wine and Cheese Pairing. January 19. Guided presentation of cheeses of the world paired with Wintergreen’s wines. Generous tastings and wine glass. Reservations necessary. Wintergreen Winery, Nelson County. 434-361-2519. wintergreenwinery.com. $ Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery 5th Year Anniversary Celebration. May 3. Complimentary foods and music, and discounts in tasting room. Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery, Afton. 540-456-8400. cardinalpointwinery.com. No fee. Ash-Lawn Virginia Wine Festival. May 17-18. Featuring 12 of Virginia’s top wineries, Latin music, curry, old-fashioned barbecue, bluegrass, farmhouse cheeses, photography and crafters and merchants. ashlawnhighland.org. Charlottesville. 434-293-9539. $15 in advance, $17 at door and $7 for children. Food, Fiber and Flowers Garden Tour. May TBA. Tour the park’s heirloom kitchen garden to learn more about gardening techniques and cultivated plant varieties and uses of the 1850s that Booker T. Washington experienced during his childhood in slavery on the Burroughs Plantation. Booker T. Washington National Monument, Hardy. 540-721-2094. nps.gov/bowa. No fee. Wintergreen Winery’s “Wine into Summer” Memorial Weekend Celebration. May 24-25. Admission includes live music, wine and food tasting, wine glass, riverside picnics, gift shop specials and door prizes. Wintergreen Winery, Nelson County. 434-361-2519. wintergreenwinery.com. $ Starry Nights at Veritas Vineyards & Winery. June 14. Enjoy live music, dancing and wine. Fee includes wine glass and live music. Vineyard picnic dinners available. Veritas Winery, Afton. 540-456-8000. veritaswines.com. Lavender Festival. June 21. Live bluegrass and country music, arts and crafts and classes on making lavender wine wreaths and oil. Pick your own lavender and sample food made with lavender. Fort Blackmore. 888-222-3715. scottcountylavender.com. No fee. Nelson County Summer Festival. June 28-29. Music, agricultural displays, demonstrations, children’s area, wine tasting, microbrew beer, and a variety of food and crafts vendors. Wine tasting and tours of the mansion and grounds are available for an additional fee. Nelson County. 434-263-7015. nelsoncountysummerfestival.com. $ Monticello Tomato Tasting. August TBA. Learn about and taste the many different varieties of tomatoes. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Charlottesville. 434-984-9822. monticello.org. $10. Blackberry Harvest Festival at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery. August 2. Live music, crafts, wine tasting and blackberry picking. Nelson County. 434-361-1266. hilltopberrywine.com. $ A Taste of Floyd. September TBA. Features locally produced foods and products, as well as a tasting tent, a wine and food garden and local musicians. Grounds of Harvest Moon Food Store, Floyd. 540-745-4366. $5 for food tasting tent. 33rd Annual Virginia Wine Festival. September TBA. Morven Park Equestrian Center, Leesburg. 703-823-1868. virginiawinefestival.org. $20 in advance; $25 at the gate. Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival. September TBA. Fine wine samples from 25 Virginia wineries, specialty foods, retail/craft vendors and live entertainment. Bernard’s Landing Resort and Conference Center. 540-721-1203. $18 in advance; $23 at door. Rib-eye Round Up at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery. Sept. 27. Enjoy thick rib-eye steaks cooked to order with salad, baked potato, bread and fine local bluegrass music. Reservations necessary. Nelson County. 434-361-1266. hilltopberrywine.com. $ Apple Tasting at Monticello. October TBA. Tom Burford, Professor Apple, will provide numerous apple varieties, each introduced with a discussion of their history and culture. Participants will taste, savor, and, most importantly, rate each apple. Reservations required. Charlottesville. 434-984-9822. monticello.org. $10. Annual James River Blues Festival at Mountain Cove Vineyards. October 4. Blues performers, food, wine tasting and sales. Nelson County. mountaincovevineyards.com. $ Apple Days Festival. October 4-5. Held under the covered oaks of Willow Plaza; homemade apple dumplings and live entertainment. Waynesboro. 866-253-1957. waynesboro.va.us. No fee. “Make Mine Wintergreen Wine” October is Virginia Wine Month! October 4 -5, 11 -12, 18-19 and 25- 26. Samples of gourmet food items and complimentary wine tasting. Picnic by the river. Nelson County. 434-361-2519. wintergreenwinery.com. No fee. Douthat Apple Day. October TBA. Apple butter making, frontier games, campfire cooking, hayrides, traditional Appalachian art and craft demonstrations, bluegrass music, clogging and great food, including a pig roast. Millboro. 540-862-8100. dcr.state.va.us/parks. $3 parking fee. Graves’ Mountain Apple Harvest Festival. October TBA. Food, bluegrass, cloggers, arts and crafts, hayrides, horseback riding, pick your own apples, tours of working farm, apple butter and brunswick stew cooking. Graves’ Mountain Lodge. Syria. 540-923-4231. gravesmountain.com. No fee. Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival. October TBA. View 20 hot air balloons as they fly morning and evening. Vintages from 20 Virginia wineries. Historical Long Branch Museum & Farm, Millwood. 888-558-5567. historiclongbranch.com. $5 on Friday, $10 Saturday-Sunday. Apple Butter Makin’ Festivals at Flippin-Seaman. October 18. Large selection of Virginia grown apples, jams, jellies, baskets and gifts. Live music, crafts and other entertainment. Tyro. 434-277-5828. flippin-seaman.com. Floyd Fandango. 3rd week of October. Faire, carnival and beer tasting. Floyd. 540-745-FEST. floydfandango.com. $22 per person, $18 designated driver, $5 children. Medieval Dinner Theater at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery. October 25. Medieval-style banquet with entertainment in modern day mead hall. Medieval dress is optional. Costume contest and door prizes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the Future Farmers of America. Nelson County, VA. 434-361-1266. hilltopberrywine.com. $ Cider Making Workshop at Monticello. October 27. Learn to make cider with Kerry Gilmer and Tom Burford. Virginia cider-making demonstrate in Monticello’s South Orchard. Help turn the crank; the cider made from the Hughes’ Crab, described as “ambrosia” by one apple enthusiast, will be your just reward. Reservations required. Charlottesville. 434-984-9822. monticello.org. $10. Apple Butter and Harvest Festival. October TBA. Hayride to the orchard, patch apple slingshot, corn maze, country music, crafts, cider, honey and hams plus apple butter making. Drumheller’s Orchard. Lovingston. 434-263-5036. No fee. Oyster Roast at Cardinal Point Vineyards & Winery. November 8- 9. Enjoy oysters, live music and Cardinal Point wines. Fee includes wine glass and tasting but does not include beverages or oysters. Nelson County. 540-456-8400. cardinalpointwinery.com.
WEST VIRGINIA18th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting. February TBA. Features more than 100 municipal and bottled waters from around the U.S. and the world competing for the title of best water. Berkeley Springs. 800-888-8768. www.berkeleysprings.com. No fee. Capital Market Green Chili Shoot Out. March 15. Thirty to 40 chili cooks from six surrounding states compete. Live music and chili giveaways. Charleston. Proceeds benefit the MS Society. 304-344-1905. capitalmarket.net. No fee. Uniquely West Virginia. April 19. Wine and food from around the state includeing barbeque sauces and smoked trout. Old Factory Antique Mall, Berkeley Springs. 800-447-8797. berkeleysprings.com. No fee. 1st Annual Brew Ha-Ha. May 10. Local breweries display their finest creations. Live music throughout the late afternoon and evening. Brewing workshops and demonstrations. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 800-768-2087. pegasusfarmcampground.com. $5. 1st Annual Campfire Cook-Off. June 21. Cooks vie for prizes and celebrate the first weekend of summer by cooking meat and vegetable dishes over open campfire. Attendees can sample the dishes. Live music throughout the late afternoon and evening. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 800-768-2087. pegasusfarmcampground.com. $5. Fiddles and Vittles Special Train at Cass. July-August TBA. Take a train ride to Whittaker Station, dinner and live bluegrass along the way. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Pocahontas County. 800-CALL-WVA. www.cassrailroad.com. $30 for adults, $20 children 5-12 years old, $10 children 5 and under. Brunch with Margaret Blennerhassett. July 17. Private stern-wheel boat cruise. Brunch in mansion. Blennerhassett Museum, Parkersburg. 304-420-4800. blennerhassettislandstatepark.com. $37. Gardens of Delight Cook-Off. July 26. Cooks vie for prizes using vegetables from local gardens. Produce will be available onsite. Dish sampling, live music and food canning demonstrations. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 800-768-2087. pegasusfarmcampground.com. $5. Dairy Day. August 16. See how goat milk is processed into butter and cheese. Pricketts Fort, Marion County. 304-363-3030. prickettsfort.org. $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 ages 6-12, children 5 and under are free. Lost in the Sauce Cook-Off. August 16. Cooks vie for prizes creating their own special tomato-based sauces using locally grown tomatoes and vegetables. Sauce tasting, live music tomato canning demonstrations and tasting of locally grown wines. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 800-768-2087. pegasusfarmcampground.com. $5. Pie in the Sky Weekend. September 12-13. Campers and cooks vie for prizes bringing their favorite pie and recipe. Pies must be made with either locally grown domestic or wild berries and fruits. Pie sampling, live music, fruit preservation demonstrations and homemade ice cream demonstrations. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 800-768-2087. pegasusfarmcampground.com. $5. Southern West Virginia Italian Festival. October 4. Enjoy buffet of homemade Italian foods, dancing and crafts. Bluefield Auditorium/Youth Center, Bluefield. 304-589-3317. No fee. Wild & Wooly Cook-Off. October 4. Cooks vie for prizes by cooking up dishes using wild game found in West Virginia. Attendees can sample the dishes. Live music throughout the day and evening. Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park, Elkins. 7th Annual Taste of Bridge Day. October 17. Enjoy scenic views while meandering through hundreds of food and craft vendors. Smokey’s on the Gorge, Fayette. 800-927-0263. officialbridgeday.com. $1. Yule Tea. December 7. Annual holiday tea for the Museum of the Berkeley Springs includes tour of castle. Two servings of English tea at 1:30 & 3:30. Limited seating. Reservations required. Proceeds benefit museum. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley Springs. |