The Union Square District of El Dorado provides the backdrop for the first ever Southern Food & Wine Festival on October 28 and 29. The event highlights Southern culture and provides a chance to enjoy some of the South’s finest food and wine.
The agenda also includes art walks and live music by artists such as Grammy award winning performer Trombone Shorty.
El Dorado is aiming to have festivals and special events in the city every other week year-round as part of a goal to become the festival capital of the South and highlight a new theme of "It's Showtime."
The festivities begin on Friday evening with a dinner hosted by Presqu'ile Winery at the new El Dorado Conference Center. Presqu'ile Winery is a Santa Maria Valley, California winery with Arkansas roots, owned by the Murphy family.
“This first event seemed a natural fit given harvest time, fall beauty, and a family owned Santa Maria Valley winery from El Dorado, Presqu'ile Winery,” said Austin Barrow, President of El Dorado Festivals & Events, Inc. "The focus will not only be on the wonderful food and variety of wines available, but the beautiful topography of our city and some of our finest visual artists. This is the first of many festivals to come.”
On Saturday the festival opens on Union Square with a self-guided art walk at noon. The Granite Club opens to food and wine tasting at 2pm and the festival ends with live music by 2011 Grammy nominee Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue.
Tickets for the event can be purchased online and range from individual one day passes, two day passes, two day limited access passes, concert tickets or wine dinner only passes
Event directors hope the festival becomes an annual event in the city. Numerous other festivals are also in development for the 2012 season including the birth of a professional theatre, The Southern Theatre Festival.
For more details visit Southern Food & Wine Festival at www.southernfoodandwinefest.com or El Dorado Festivals & Events at www.eldofest.com or call 870-863-6113
