7th Annual Cortland Arts & Wine Festival

Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 — the day that the Cultural Council of Cortland County hosts its seventh annual Arts & Wine Festival.   Make your way to Courthouse Park in downtown Cortland between 10am and 5pm so you can enjoy this year’s event.  The park is the perfect setting to see close up juried works of talented artists from around the region, to hear sounds of outstanding instrumental and vocal musicians from near and far, and to become acquainted with fine wines from upstate wineries.

There is no charge to enjoy art and music at the festival.  Visitors can interact with 60 or more 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.  Artists will be eligible for prizes amounting to over $1000, including $100.00 for Best of Show.

The sidewalk chalk drawing/painting contest will be back again.  This is the second year of the contest.  The registration fee for one person or a group is $10; each person or group gets a box of chalk and a sidewalk square to decorate any way they wish. For more information about prizes and to register, email staff@cortlandarts.com or call 753-1188.

John Sikora (cortlandmusic.org) provides a line-up of talented musicians who come from around the region to entertain with sounds of classical music, jazz and musical theater. Visitors always appreciate the exquisite music whether they sit close up or meander through the artists’ booths.  The artists themselves always delight in having such pleasing music as background.

The wine tent opens at noon; admission to enter is $15.  Individual tickets can be purchased online or at the wine tent the day of the festival.  Groups tickets are $12 and must be purchased in advance by calling 607-753-1188 or by emailing David Beale, Council director via staff@cortlandarts.com.   Only those 21 and over with a ticket are permitted in the wine tent.  Thanks to the efforts of Ann Finamore, the list of wineries serving and selling award winning wines continues to grow.   Award winning local author John Hartsock will be on hand to sign copies of his book “Seasons of a Finger Lakes Winery,” a captivating story about Long Point Winery, owned and operated by Cortland residents Gary and Rosemary Barletta.

Tasty foods can be purchased on site at the festival, from farmers’ market vendors, or from restaurants a stone’s throw from the park serving a variety of cuisines, including Lebanese, Japanese/Asian Fusion, Italian, Mexican, and more.

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.  For a ride, check with Seven Valleys Health Coalition or http://www.sevenvalleyshealth.org/way2go/ about inexpensive transportation.  If you have never attended, don’t miss the 2013 festival and see why many local residents and out of town visitors return each year.