10th Annual Arts and Wine Festival

Saturday August 6th, 2016 marks our 10th Annual Arts and Wine Festival! The Cultural Council of Cortland County started the festival in Courthouse Park in downtown Cortland as a small Arts in the Park event. After a few years, board member David Blatchley had the ingenious idea of asking wineries to participate. That was 10 years ago, and now we have a popular annual festival that combines local wine, art, food and music!

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.

Around 40 artists will set up on the lawn throughout the park for the 2016 show.  The artists this year include painters, photographer, jewelers, fiber artists, potters and sculptors. New this year – wine tent ticket holders will receive a $5 refund for a minimum purchase of $20 from an artist vendor!

There is no charge to enjoy art and music at the festival.

The public, especially children and young people, is invited to participate in the sidewalk chalk drawing event at Courthouse Park.  Each registered participant will be assigned a sidewalk square along the South side of the park.

Visitors will enjoy the exquisite music that continues throughout the day whether they sit close up or meander through the artists’ booths.  A line-up of talented musicians come from around the region to entertain with sounds of classical music, bluegrass, Celtic and jazz. JazzHappensBand, Craobh Dugan and Merryland Times are a few of the acts that will perform from the 2 stages.

Entrance to the wine tent starts at noon and includes a souvenir tasting glass. A $20 admission is 21 and over only.  ID’s are required for wine tent access.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at a discount online at cortlandartsandwine.org or at the wine tent at regular price the day of the festival. In addition to about 16 wineries, Three Brothers Winery returns to the festival as last year’s People’s Choice Winner!

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 2016 festival and see why many local residents and out of town visitors return each year! Explore the festival at cortlandartsandwine.org.

We thank our sponsors, CNY Family of Dealerships, Family Dentistry, CFCU, Max Graphics, The Local Food Market, WXHC, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America and Cayuga Radio Group.