9th Annual Cortland Arts & Wine Festival

Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 1, 2015 — the day that the Cultural Council of Cortland County hosts its Ninth Annual Arts & Wine Festival. Plan to visit Cortland and make your way to Courthouse Park between 10am and 5pm to enjoy this year’s event. The park, with its historic courthouse, elegant fountain, and towering trees, provides the perfect setting in which to view juried works of talented artists from around the region, to hear sounds of outstanding instrumental and vocal musicians from near and far, to feast on a wide variety of local foods, and to become acquainted with fine wines from upstate wineries. There is also plenty of free parking.  As an added bonus for early arrivals, Tim Hortons will be handing out free coffee drinks through early afternoon.

Around 40 artists will set up on the lawn throughout the park for the 2015 show. Over $1,000 in prizes will be distributed including $100.00 for Best of Show.  “Art work of this caliber would be three to four times the price in New York City.”   “How impressive the music, I could have listened for hours and hours.” “The wines could not have been better; I bought a case, a new one I discovered!”  These are just a few comments relayed at last year’s Arts & Wine Festival organized by the Cultural Council of Cortland County.

There is no charge to enjoy art and music at the festival.  Visitors can interact with the talented artists/artisans displaying and demonstrating their techniques throughout the day.  It’s always amazing to have such great variety of high quality juried works for sale from which to choose for a special gift or a personal possession.

The public, especially children and young people, is invited to participate in the sidewalk chalk drawing event at Courthouse Park.  As part of the Cortland Arts and Wine Festival, chalk drawing will begin at 11 am. Judging for awards will begin at 4 pm with winners announced at 4:30 pm. A registration fee of $10 is required. Each registered participant will be assigned a sidewalk square along the South side of the park. Chalk is being donated The Picture House, this year’s sponsor, as well as prizes of art supplies.

Visitors will enjoy the exquisite music that continues throughout the day whether they sit close up or meander through the artists’ booths. Cortland Music provides a line-up of talented musicians who come from around the region to entertain with sounds of classical music, bluegrass, jazz, and musical theater. Brothers McCrae, Molly and the Badly BENT Bluegrass Band and TheJazzHappensBand are a few of the acts that will perform from the 2 stages.

The 2015 festival will feature a food tent close to the music with tables and chairs under cover.  The food court is bigger than ever, include the widest variety of local foods yet!  A handful of food trucks will be competing for your taste buds, including The Chicken Bandit, Pig Vycious and The Bite Box Food Truck of Deli Downtown.  The Cultural Council welcomes Trinity Valley, RiLi Bubble Tea and Long Island Bagels to the festival for the first time.

Entrance to the wine tent starting at noon includes a souvenir tasting glass. Admission to enter is $16.   Tickets can be purchased in advance at a discount online at www.cortlandartsandwine.org or at the regular price at the wine tent the day of the festival.   The wineries new to the festival include: The Winery at Marjim Manor from Appleton, NY; Casa Larga from Fairport, NY; Castel Grisch Winery from Watkins Glen, NY; Hudson-Chatham Winery from Ghent, NY; and Tug Hill Vineyards from Lowville, NY. Americana Vineyards and Winery returns to the festival as last year’s People’s Choice Winner!

Thank you to our sponsors, CNY Arts, CFCU, McNeil and Company, Dental Arts Family Dentistry, Tobacco Free Cortland, Merrill Lynch, Cortland Eye Center and The Local Food Market and Café.

Invite family and friends from out of town and come out to enjoy this valued community arts tradition.   Consider biking or walking.   If driving, there is plenty of free parking near the park. If you have never attended, don’t miss the 2015 festival and see why many local residents and out of town visitors return each year!