Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival will return to Lake George on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26.
The event will feature more than 120 of New York wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries, artisan food producers, food trucks and more at the Lake George Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park in Lake George Village.
Organizers of the family friendly event said over 7,700 attendees are expected this year.
“Two years ago, we didn’t know when we’d be able to hold this festival again,” said Sasha Pardy, who founded the festival in 2014. “We are 100 percent committed to bringing our guests the experience they have come to know and love over the years: sampling the state’s best craft beverage and food products with beautiful Lake George as their backdrop.”
The last Adirondack Wine & Food Festival was held in June 2019. Over 6,700 guests attended, with 73 percent of attendees saying they planned a trip to the Lake George area specifically to attend the festival.
Tickets for this year’s festival are selling at a record pace. “This tells us our event has been missed and we look forward to giving our attendees an experience they’ll never forget,” Pardy said.
She said the 2022 festival is expected to generate 4,745 overnight stays in the area and produce a $3.6 million economic impact on the region.
“As the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returns from their pandemic hiatus, the event is attracting even more new and different visitors,” said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The event producers have been very strategic in their growth plans that enhance the Lake George vacation brand of unique experiences. Because of their efforts, the festival continues as a substantial economic engine for the region adding tremendous impact to the area.”
For a third time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks (BBBS) will return as the festival beneficiary. A portion of every ticket sold is donated to the organization that provides mentorship, tutoring and experiences to youth in Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties. BBBS raised $15,000 at the 2019 festival.
“It has been a long two years for everyone,” said Bill Moon, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks. “Opportunities to come together to have some fun while also helping our kids are more important than ever before.”
Volunteers from BBBS will be selling spring water bottles, sponsored by Blue Triton Brands. The organization also operates the drop-off/pick-up tent, where guests can “check” the beverages and foods they purchase at the festival until they are ready to leave.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can view special events at the festival’s Culinary & Cocktail Tent. There will be culinary demonstrations by the festival’s official celebrity chef, Eric Hudson of Hudson’s Private Chef Services.
Kelli Hatin, owner of Mixaritas, and guest mixologists will make craft cocktails prepared from vendors’ ingredients. There will even be Iron Chef-style cooking competitions with ingredients from festival vendors.
The festival will have live entertainment for the first time this year. Attendees will see “wandering” entertainers across the festival grounds throughout the weekend, including Magician TJ Clancy, a West African drum circle from Rural Soul music studio, dance performances from Dynamic Dance Works, and stilt walker/ aerialist Jessica Black.
The festival will also have VIP cabanas both days. The “glamping tents” are provided and sponsored by the Adirondack Safari glamping campground in Warrensburg, and their mobile glamping company, Glamp ADK.
This year’s festival will feature 24-plus wineries, 15-plus distilleries, more than three breweries, four cideries, three meaderies, 10-plus food trucks, 25-plus artisan food vendors, four non-alcoholic beverage producers, and 10-plus craft and specialty vendors.
In addition to one- and two-day tasting tickets, VIP, designated driver, and underage tickets are available (children under 15 years old are free). DD and underage attendees may sample artisan foods and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as have access to food trucks and all festival activities.
Additional family friendly offerings include a Kids’ Activity Tent sponsored by Fun Spot, a natural playground and skate park at the venue, and a photo booth operated by On the Spot Photos.
Tickets will be available at the door. The event website is adkwinefest.com.