A Celebration of Wine, Art and Music Coming to Downtown Waynesboro
By now, many people throughout the four-state region are familiar with the “Destination ARTS!” initiative, which has transformed several vacant storefronts in downtown Waynesboro into full-scale art galleries. Each weekend, a wide variety of artwork is on display and live music can be heard on the sidewalks and in the streets. Now, organizers are preparing to add an extra ingredient to their success.
On the afternoon of Saturday, September 13, independent winemakers in the area will have an opportunity to showcase their “bottled art” as part of the first “Waynesboro Wine Walk.” Locally produced flavors such as “Locust Blossom,” “Red Plum” and “Berry Interesting” will be available to sample inside of the downtown galleries between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. There will be no charge to taste the wine, but participants must be at least 21 years old.
“Waynesboro has truly become an arts destination, and it’s no secret that our community is filled with talented visual and performing artists,” said Deb Hollen, co-chairperson of the event. “But, when we learned that several people in town make a variety of wines, we realized their abilities needed to be celebrated as well.”
Doug Mowen, Jason Kauffman and Warren Frusher are a few of the independent winemakers who will have their homemade products available for sampling on September 13. Organizers expect a total of at least 10 to 15 different types to be served in six galleries during the event.
In addition to the independents, Adams County Winery will have representatives inside of Gallery 50, located at 50 West Main Street, while the “Wine Walk” is being held. Bottles of their product, including the popular “Tears of Gettysburg” and “Rebel Red,” will be for sale.
Several musicians are scheduled to perform throughout the course of the event, entertaining people as they pass by and travel in and out of the galleries.
The bluegrass sounds of The Lowdown Grasskickers will entertain audiences on Center Square while the duo known as G@G (Gillian Hollen and Garrett Smith) will play music inside of Gallery 20 East. Ritma Cordia, featuring Marlin Barnes on marimba and Jane Peatling on cello, can be heard on the sidewalk in front of Gallery 50, and the team of Tim Gotwald (flute) and Dan Dropkin (guitar) will be set up at The Ceramic Arts Center of Waynesboro.
Organizers are eagerly anticipating the town’s first “Wine Walk,” and it’s an event they believe can return to town for years to come.
“Anyone who visits Main Street on the weekends receives a sensory experience they won’t soon forget,” said Hollen. “You can see the artwork in our galleries, hear the music in the air, and on September 13, you can get a literal taste of another talent this town has to offer.”
For more information about this event, send an e-mail to artsalliancegw@gmail.com or visit the official website of the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro (www.artsalliancegw.org).