Art, Wine and Music Highlight the 4^th Annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival

The fourth annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, September 5-7, 2008, benefiting the American Red Cross, Western Potomac Chapter, features beautifully handcrafted works by local and regional artisans, wine tasting from over 200 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 makes 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 Art & Wine Festival begins Friday night, September 5 with area restaurants offering special pre-fix wine pairing dinners. Uno’s, Pine Lodge Steakhouse, DC’s Restaurant & Bar, Silver Tree, and Will O’ the Wisp will be teaming up with national wineries to pair pre-selected wines with specially prepared dinner courses. The menus will be published on www.deepcreekwinefest.com several weeks prior to the festival weekend.

The weekend continues on Saturday, September 6, from noon until 6:00 PM at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in McHenry, Maryland.  Over thirty professional artisans and craftsmen will display and sell their art, from handcrafted jewelry and wood carvings to oil paintings, and  hand painted furniture and accessories. National distributors and Maryland wineries will offer samplings of a variety of over 200 wines to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes. Guests may purchase the wines at the festival’s retail store (open until 7 PM), with net proceeds donated to the Red Cross.

Kids too will enjoy the festival with free activities just for them including face painting, balloon art, carriage rides, hair braiding, and more, including 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.”  Past participants include State Senator George Edwards, Maryland Delegate Wendell Beitzel, County Commissioners Denny Glotfelty and Fred Holliday, and Oakland Mayor Asa McCain.

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.

On September 7, 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 for Saturday’s festival are $25 for adults, 21 and over and include entry fee, wine tastings and a commemorative wine glass.  Admittance only is $5 and children five and under are free.

Art & Wine Festival lodging packages are available at participating hotels, B&B’s and resort rental agencies. The packages include entrance to the Art & Wine Festival, wine tastings, commemorative glass and Friday night wine dinner gift certificates to be used toward wine pairing dinners at participating restaurants. For more information, guests may call (888) 387-5237 or visit www.deepcreekwinefest.com.

The Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival is sponsored in part by local & regional businesses including Wisp Resort,  Long & Foster REALTORS, Inc., Ridgeview Valley, Coldwell Banker, Taco Bell, The Lodges at Aqua Mountain Resort, McHenry Beverage Shoppe, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Life Magazine, Savage River Lodge, The Lake-Front, NuWay Interiors, Good Timber Bed & Breakfast, and MarketWorks, LLC.