If you want to see the arts, taste the wines, and hear live jazz, the 10th Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival is the place to be this weekend, May 17-18.
The event has earned recognition around the state as a top festival, and is building on this momentum to deliver another great experience in downtown Dahlonega and adjacent Hancock Park.
The Arts & Wine Fest, presented by Chestatee Artists, features over 80 carefully selected artists who will showcase paintings, wood arts, metal arts, photography, ceramics, fiber and leather arts, glass arts, jewelry, a variety of mixed media arts and gourmet foods.
All booths will be set up around downtown and along Hancock Park.
WINE & BEER GARDEN
The Wine & Beer Garden, sponsored by Etowah Meadery, will feature wines from the Dahlonega Plateau and craft beers from Etowah.
The Garden will open each day at 11 a.m. and continue serving until 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Wine patrons can enjoy the wines by purchasing “tastings” of a variety of wines, or enjoy wine by the glass or by the bottle.
The craft beers will be available by the glass.
Tickets for the tastings will be available at the entrance to the Garden area.
Participating wineries include Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery, Kaya Vineyard & Winery, Habersham Vinyards & Winery, Creekstone Vineyards & Winery. Etowah will feature several of their wines as well.
JAZZ MUSIC
Free, lively jazz performances will be presented each day from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Hancock Park Pavilion.
There will be new and returning artists to entertain the audience with their professional talents.
Veteran vocalists like Janine Arecco, Deborah Calvert with “A Little Big Band,” and Cindy Bell will provide entertainment.
Some of the talented groups will include the Alan Davis Trio, KT Collective, Denise Moore & Then Some, Frank Valdez with the Atlanta Connection and Cuban-born guitarist Jorge Garcia.
Tables will be available for sitting and “sipping” as attendees listen to the sounds of jazz.
The public is welcome to bring lawn chairs to Hancock Park to enjoy the Free performances.
MORE INFO
Food vendors will provide foods from the Greek Tavern and Brookton Catfish School with fried fish and chicken.
Get an advanced look at the artwork of artists and other participants featured on the Facebook page for the festival.
See other information on the Chestatee Artists Website, www.chestateeartists.org, or email Chestatee.artists@gmail.com.
The downtown area will be closed to traffic so other parking is available beyond the square.
Visit the City of Dahlonega’s website: dahlonega.gov, click on Community and then Downtown Parking.
Free parking is also available in the University of North Georgia parking deck using the entrance from the intersection of South Chestatee Street and Choice Street.