LAKEPORT — Patrons can enjoy Lake County wines paired with appetizers while listening to music at the 12th annual Taste of Lakeport event, coming to Lakeport”s downtown Main Street on Friday.
Main Street will be blocked off between First and Seventh streets between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. while revelers meander from booth to booth and business to business sampling Lake County wines and food prepared at area restaurants to match the wines. Patrons get a wine glass and map with ticket purchases, and can enter to win cash prizes if they visit each of 20 businesses and booths offering wine and food.
“We”re starting to attract the younger set. It used to be mostly middle-aged to older people, but last year I noticed there were a lot of people in their 20s and 30s. That”s a good sign ? we”re starting to attract all ages,” Downtown Main Street Association Executive Director Jan Bruns said.
The association coordinates the event every year as its main fundraiser. Bruns said last year the event raised between $15,000 and $20,000, which she said was more than ever before.
The money goes to organizations including Lake Family Resource Center, Freedom House and Lake County Arts Council, among others, as well as to help with community projects that include aquatic weed eradication at Library Park, hanging flower baskets and street lights in downtown Lakeport.
This year, event coordinator Beth Havrilla said the association plans to work with Lakeport redevelopment to offer business owners suggestions for upgrading the inside of their businesses, in conjunction with redevelopment”s efforts to improve storefronts.
Havrilla said the event brought in three businesses from outside the event”s physical perimeter this year, creating a net increase of two more businesses participating. Wine varietals from 17 Lake County wineries will be available for sampling, along with appetizers from 15 restaurants in Lakeport, Kelseyville and Upper Lake, she said.
“The wine industry has just phenomenally grown in one year. For the wineries, this is a great tool to get their name out there, and for all of us to taste their wines,” Havrilla said.
Havrilla said she anticipates incorporating more wineries and businesses next year.
Seaplanes will be parked throughout the event for attendees to view for the second year, according to Havrilla. She said there will be six this year, up from four last year.
New to the event this year is the background music, according to Havrilla. Attendees will hear the sounds of the Neo Flamenco Duo at the north end, and flautist Cathy Hall with keyboard player Mel Taylor at the south end, according to Havrilla.
Patrons can buy tickets for $25 until noon Friday, and for $30 after that in front of the Lake County Museum on Main Street between Second and Third streets.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com
