The fifth annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, September 11-13, 2009, 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. Deep Creek Lake is located in the mountains of western Maryland.
 

“The festival has been a huge success from the first year,” says Paula Yudelevit, co-chair. “We see new faces as well as those who have come since our first festival. It’s just that much fun and of course the weather and the fall foliage is gorgeous!”

The Art & Wine Festival begins Friday night, September 11 with area restaurants offering special pre-fix wine pairing dinners, 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.  Reservations are suggested as these wine pairing dinners have become popular with visitors as well as residents.
 

The weekend continues on Saturday, September 12, 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, moon bounce, and more, including wine bottle label design for kids. Lindsay Karroll, Miss Deep Creek Lake 2009, will be on hand to sign autographs and chat with the kids.
 

Guests will have the opportunity to chat with locals and frequent visitors 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, and other state and local officials.
 

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 13, Sunday brunch will be offered at participating restaurants.

“September is such a beautiful time to visit Deep Creek,” says co-chair Vianne Bell. “The fall colors are magnificent and we’ve been very fortunate to have perfect weather every year – even in 2008 with hurricane threats surrounding our area.”

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 wine 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., Railey Mountain Lake Vacations, Taco Bell, McHenry Beverage, Maryland Life Magazine, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, My Bank First United, Taylor Made Vacations, The Lake-Front, Nu Way Interiors, Humberson Homes, Clear Mountain Bank, Junior Women’s Civic Club, Little Mountain Promotions, Knights of Columbus, Good Timber Bed & Breakfast, and MarketWorks, LLC.