‘Grapes in the Village’ tonight

DUE TO EXCESSIVE RAIN. THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED. The Washington County Chamber of Commerce announces their ‘Grapes in the Village’ event at the John Hay Center.

The outdoor event will consist of wine testing, food and entertainment on the lawn of the village. “We think the village is under utilized. We want to showcase what a great asset it is to the community,” said chamber president Karen Barry.

It is a celebration of Washington County’s finest, partnering two local wineries, Hunter’s Ridge and First Miracle, with two locally owned eateries, Cheddar Depot and B&B Pizzeria.

Barry said, “An evening of outdoor enjoyment is our whole goal.” 

CDC guidelines will be closely adhered to with hand sanitizing stations available. Masks are not required, but social distancing is encouraged. “We will do our best to keep surfaces wiped down and, of course, are encouraging social distancing,” said Tara Kritzer, executive director of the chamber.

The 21 and older event will take place on Friday, July 31, from 6 to 10 p.m. Entrance will be through the main entrance to the John Hay Center, off of the brick street (E. Market).

Admission is free, but tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the door for wine-tastings. (The wineries will not be accepting any type of cash - tickets only.) Each tasting will be one ticket, but if you find a favorite and want a full glass, the number of tickets required will be set by each winery. Wine slushies will also be available.

Both food vendors will be selling food on a cash only basis. Cheddar Depot will have pork barbeque sandwiches and chips, while B&B Pizzeria will offer slices of pizza and bread sticks. Both will have drinks available, also.

There will be seating available, but organizers welcome attendees to bring their own lawn chairs, if they wish.

The proceeds, of what organizers hope is the first annual event, will be split between the chamber and the Washington County Historical Society. “It will benefit both organizations,” Kritzer said.

The coronavirus has continued to alter the plans, but Barry said, “It’s not the event we envisioned, but we are very excited and hope it will grow each year.”