PARKERSBURG - The sixth annual Taste of Parkersburg will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Blennerhassett Hotel and Bicentennial Plaza on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg.
A variety of food and beverages provided by local and regional businesses will be available for sampling during the event.
For a third year, a special wine tasting seminar will be Friday evening at the Blennerhassett. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the wine education program will be presented by Adventure Wine, a wine education group located Washington, D.C. The cost is $40 for the seminar, which will include hors d'ouevres and wined.
During the program, participants will learn to taste, judge and evaluate wine and learn to distinguish between different flavors and styles of wines from around the world, describe them to others and match them with various types of food. The program will again be presented by former Vienna resident and professional wine educator Robert Cavanaugh.
This year's Friday evening seminar will have a slightly different format, Childress said. It will be an opportunity for participants to learn more about wines but it will also have the feel of a trade event with opportunities for local restaurants and others to learn more about the wines for their own uses, he said.
Childress said Cavanaugh will also participate in the Taste event on Saturday. He and his staff will have a separate tent where they will give small wine seminars, called "wine shots," during the Taste of Parkersburg.
Advance tickets are $12 and end Monday. Tickets are $15 at the gate. Admission includes a complimentary Taste logo wine or beer glass for sampling. Tickets are available at the Blennerhassett at 320 Market St. and at WesBanco offices in Parkersburg.
Once admitted to the event, Childress said visitors will purchase $1 tickets that can be used with food or wine vendors at the Taste for specific foods and beverages, ranging from $1 to $5 in value.
The food vendors will be serving food until 9 p.m. and the wine vendors will serve until 10 p.m. The entertainment will end at 11 p.m. during the event. The Taste of Parkersburg will have several local artists participating in the event, exhibiting their works for display or sale.
The participating restaurants are scheduled to include: Angelos Great Steak Grill, Blacksmith Barbecue Shack, Da Vinci's, Holl's Swiss Chocolatier, Chams, Lui Lui, Mango Latin Bistro, Spats at The Blennerhassett, The Galley, Tampico's Mexican Restaurant, The Fishbone Gill and Grill, Third Street Deli and Yancy's Five-Star Catering. Additional restaurants may sign up before the event, Childress said.
Grace Chang, owner of Lui Lui in Vienna, said she really likes the Taste of Parkersburg and feels it has a positive impact on the Parkersburg area. Her restaurant has participated each year in the Taste.
"I think it's good for the community and brings in people from other areas. It lets people know we have a lot of good local restaurants," she said.
This year's program will feature wine and boutique beers, he said. The wine and beer vendors will include: Duplin Winery, Candoni Wines, Bouchaine Vineyards, Kobrand Wine and Spirits, Antares Wine Company, Connolly Selections, Falcor Wines, Toscano in Appalachia, WineTree Vineyards and others.
Entertainment
5 p.m.: Smoot House Band
6 p.m.: Duane Flesher Trio with vocalist Lara Donahoe
7 p.m.: Sweet Basil
8 p.m.: Smoot House Band
9 p.m.: Duane Flesher Trio with vocalist Lara Donahoe
10 p.m.: Sweet Basil
