Wheaton festival pairs wine with fine art

The Wine and Cultural Arts Festival featuring wine tasting, fine art and entertainment is coming to Wheaton this weekend as a collaboration between the Downtown Wheaton Association and the Wheaton Park District.

The festival will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in Memorial Park, 208 W. Union St., Wheaton.

Wine enthusiasts can enjoy tasting wine from all over North America and the globe, said Paula Barrington, executive director of the Downtown Wheaton Association.

“Attendees will be able to converse about the wine and speak with the various representatives from the vendors. That’s their education,” Barrington said.

But the event will feature much more than wine, she added.

“(As organizers,) we asked ourselves, ‘How can we expand on the concept of a tasting?’” she said. “We can combine art with wine — it’s a natural fit. So we decided to make it a fine arts festival with live entertainment.”

While they taste wine, attendees will have the opportunity to peruse fine art by local artists.

“We’re working through the DuPage Art League, Naperville Art League and other artists coalitions to find artists to participate,” Barrington said.

These artisans — including painters, sculptors, glass blowers, jewelry designers and textile artists — also will demonstrate their work, giving attendees a front-row seat to observe the creative process.

In addition to wine and art, the festival will include a backdrop of jazz and contemporary music, Barrington said.

Throughout the day, each attendee will be given the chance to vote for their favorite wine. The winning wine will be featured in at least one downtown Wheaton restaurant for the coming year.

“It’s a great way to engage the public and build anticipation for next year’s event,” Barrington said.

Downtown Wheaton businesses also will participate in a “pre-event” on Friday, Sept. 20, by offering dinner specials, in-store specials and a sneak preview of the festival’s wines.

Tickets for the Wine and Cultural Arts Festival are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Both options include a souvenir glass and 12 tastings. There is a $5 cover for entry without wine. Attendees 20 and younger are free. Beer, wine, soda and food will be for sale. For information, see wheatonparkdistrict.com/waca.