First Posted: 9/22/2014
The Tunkhannock Rotary Harvest and Wine Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Lazybrook Park, rain or shine.
About a dozen wineries will participate, including Antler Ridge, Bartollai, Capra Collina, Ferrone, Grovedale, Hidden Creek, Maiolatesi, Nimble Hill, Pickering, Sand Castle and Colonel Ricketts Hard Cider. More than 50 vendors will offer food, crafts and more for sale Music will be provided throughout the day by returning favorite, amRadio, Idol Kings, a Journey and John Mellencamp tribute band.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the gate, or $5 for designated drivers. They can be ordered online at tunkhannockrotary.org until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct 10. Tickets can also be purchased at Gay’s True Value, Community Bank and Nimble Hill.
A new category of ticket with additional benefits is also available. Approximately 120 VIP tickets will be sold for $75 and $40 for designated drivers. VIP tent ticket holders will be allowed to enter the festival 30 minutes before the general public. Also included is a buffet lunch, commemorative wine glass and T-shirt, as well as a sheltered seating area with tables from which VIPs can freely come and go throughout the day. VIP tickets are only available by contacting Ann Way at ASWay@epix.net.
Another new feature at this year’s festival is the Tunkhannock Rotary Booth’s fundraising for the Rotary Foundation’s End Polio Now campaign.
For every dollar raised by Rotary, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match it with $2. Rotarians will sell fabric purple crocus pins/boutonnieres and paint people’s pinkies purple to raise money for this endeavor. The purple crocus pins were created and successfully used by Rotary clubs in England to attract donations for polio eradication. The crocus was chosen as the purple color matched the purple dye painted onto the pinkie finger of children who had been immunized against polio.