Samples of support: Waverly Wine Fest set for Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Waverly Community House

WAVERLY TWP. — The Waverly Community House, 1115 N. Abington Road, will once again set the scene for its annual Wine Fest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, on the back lawn of The Comm.

This will be the third year of the event. Waverly Wine Fest started in 2024 as a way to bring more people to the community center affectionately known for generations as The Comm. The building carries memories of people in the Abingtons who grew up roller skating, attending summer camps, visiting artisan fairs and a host of other activities that have taken place there over the years.

“We used to have an event called ‘Cocktails for the Courts’ to raise money for the tennis courts here,” Executive Director Gia Tugend said. “That ran its course, and we wanted to bring something new to raise money for the needs of the community.”

All proceeds from the event will go toward The Comm, Tugend said.

This year celebrates America’s semiquincentennial with an America 250 theme. Entertainment will include live music from Doug Smith’s Dixieland Band, a local favorite that has played at many of The Comm’s events.

Tugend said that Waverly Wine Fest will have many food vendors to choose from, from snack items to heartier fare. Food trucks like Pizza Plant and Smash Hut will offer their signature Neopolitan pizzas and smash burgers, and The Comm will have a table offering chips, pretzels and other lighter items.

“Visitors can come, get a snack and maybe eat something more substantial later,” Tugend said.

Visitors will also have the chance to shop at the festival. Clarks Summit-based boutique Pure Suds will have a table at the event, as will artisans A&J handcrafting, Rustic Shamrock and Bohemian Cat.

Of course, Waverly Wine Fest’s main attraction will be the wine and beverage vendors on hand. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste the offerings of five regional wineries, including Scott Township’s Maiolatesi Wine Cellars and Lucchi Family Wine Cellars of Scranton.

For those looking for beverages other than wine, other drink vendors include Lacka Lemonade, Silverback Distillery, Susquehanna Brewing Company and Sa Coffee.

This year’s wine fest will also include a few new vendors. Maple Hill Apiaries of Dalton will have raw honey and hive products for sale, and North Harford Maple of New Milford will have pure Pennsylvania maple syrup and maple products on hand. Also new this year is Sango Kura, a Delaware Water Gap-based distillery that is the only sake distillery in Pennsylvania.

The event is for adults ages 21 and older, with a $10 admission charge.

“We will be checking IDs,” Tugend said.

“It’s an affordable way to spend time on the beautiful grounds of The Comm,” she added. “The weather is usually beautiful, and it’s a lovely day to walk around and sample a little bit of everything.”

Also, the first 300 people to purchase tickets online will receive a complimentary custom-made wine glass from Waverly Community House. “It turned out beautifully, and it’s a wonderful way to remember us,” Tugend said.

For more information, visit the Waverly Community House website at waverlycomm.org.