The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returns to the Lake George Festival Commons in Wood Park Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30. This is the fifth year for the event that celebrates New York State wines, craft beers, spirits and artisan foods. The 2019 Festival will be the biggest yet with 33 wineries, 15 distilleries, 7 breweries, 7 cideries, a meadery, 12 food trucks, 28 artisan food vendors and 19 craft and specialty vendors.
“Our festival keeps growing,” says festival owner Sasha Pardy in a press release, “and that gives us a better opportunity to highlight more of the amazing wines and foods New York State has to offer.” Pardy co-owns the Adirondack Winery in Lake George, the Festival’s presenting sponsor. For the second, consecutive year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks is the official festival beneficiary.
Under the Culinary Tent, the entertaining celebrity Chef William Cornelius will, every hour on both days, demonstrate food preparation using a Big Green Egg grill provided by Marcella’s Appliance. Chef William’s audience will be able to sample his finished work. Local bartenders will demonstrate wine cocktail recipes using Adirondack Winery wines and spirits from the distilleries represented at the festival.
Sunday of the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival will feature new activities. Chef William will compete with Chef Colin Miner, executive chef at the Queensbury Hotel, in an Iron Chef-style competition. For additional fees, Sip & Canvas of Glens Falls will be leading an hour-long painting session, Barkeater Chocolates will hold wine and chocolate pairing classes and Wax ‘n’ Wix of Lake George will offer wine glass candle-making sessions.
Tasting ticket prices start at $38 and include a souvenir wine glass, which may be used to sample beverages at all booths, a festival entry bag and a program guide to all the vendors. VIP tickets, available with online pre-sale only, include additional goodies. $15 Designated Driver/Under age one-day tickets are $15. These ticket-holders will not be able to sample beverages but may taste food products and enjoy the Festival’s entertainment and demonstrations. Pre-sale tickets may be purchased at a discount through the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival website. Advanced purchase is recommended as tickets do sell out.
Metered parking is available on surrounding streets ($1- and $2-per-hour) and in nearby municipal parking lots. Private businesses also offer parking near Wood Park, with all-day parking fees generally running $15 to $20.