The 2007 Maryland Wine Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster.
Admission is $20 for adults 21 and older with valid identification, $5 for ages 7-20, and free for age 6 and younger with a paying adult. Adult admission includes a logo-engraved wine glass, samples of Maryland wines, and Wine Education seminars.
The event features 18 wineries from across the state showcasing their finest vintages; wine education seminars; an amateur wine judging contest at 1 p.m. Sept. 16; and the American Lung Association's Bike Tour on Saturday.
More than 60 craft vendors will be on hand, as well as approximately 30 food establishments. Live entertainment will be provided both days.
New to this year's festival is the TimeOut Sports Grille's big screen TV in the dining tent, allowing visitors to watch the Sunday football game between the Ravens and New York Jets.
Instead of rubber stamps, wristbands will be provided to those 21 and older. Also gone are wine sample coupons. Guests now are allowed to sample wines from all the participating vineyards, instead of a limited number.
The wine festival logo contest this year was won by Carol Larson of Annapolis, whose watercolor of a wineglass with rolling farmland flowing into the distance appears on publicity materials, T-shirts, sweatshirts, event brochures and programs.
Honorable Mentions in the contest went to: John Kachik of Sykesville; Adam Leviton and Kenneth Brown of Mount Airy; John Csordas of Jefferson; and Damien Pendrotti of Westminster.
Free handicapped-accessible shuttle is available at Carroll Community College on Route 32 and from the Carroll County Offices on North Center Street. Please leave pets at home as they are not allowed on museum grounds.
Volunteers are needed to help make the wine festival go smoothly. Anyone working a 3 1/2 hour shift in any volunteer capacity will get a free ticket to the festival.
Information: 410-386-3880.
