The Maryland Wine Festival Saturday-Sunday, September 16 & 17 • Carroll County Farm Museum
The Maryland Wine Festival Fine wine, great music, fabulous food and unique crafts. More than 30 Maryland wineries are gathered here so that you may savor your favorite vintages, expand your palate and add new Maryland wines to your repertoire. This year we’ve added some great new activities and expanded our food offerings and even added more one-of-a-kind crafts. So lay out your blanket or set up your chairs and join us for a weekend of music, food, fun and most of all: Maryland wine. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster. For more information visit www.marylandwine.org/mwf
Carroll County 4-H/FFA Fair July 29 –August 4 • 11 a.m.–11 p.m.• Carroll County Ag Center
Concert with William Michael Morgan • Thursday, August 3 • 8:30 p.m. • Tickets: $20 @ the Gate | Children 7 & under FREE
The 4-H and FFA members develop positive self-esteem and experience valuable life lessons on which to build successful futures. Family-friendly events include a demolition derby, monster trucks, a tractor pull, and our famous Saturday night concert. Admission to the fair is free. Some individual events have a fee. Carroll County Agriculture Center, 706 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster. www.carrollcountyfair.com.
Carroll Arts Pops the Cork with Showing of Bottle Shock Friday, September 15 • 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Film Lovers in Carroll County (FLICC) will prepare for the upcoming Maryland Wine Festival with a screening of the 2008 film “Bottle Shock” on Friday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and a special limited wine tasting prior to the evening screening.
The film is a charming fictionalized version of the early days of California wine making and the now infamous blind Paris wine competition of 1976 often known as the “Judgment of Paris.” It was truly a revolutionary occurrence for California’s Napa Valley wines to score a shocking victory over France’s noble varietals. Indeed, this event had a monumental impact on the wine industry as a whole.
The evening audience will be welcomed, via Skype, by Marcus Notaro of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, the creators of the winning Cabernet in the infamous blind tasting. He will bring greetings direct from the Napa California vineyards where the harvest is set to begin. Notaro will also share some insider information to help audiences get a full-bodied enjoyment of the film. A small selection of Napa Valley wines will be offered for sale at the concession stand.
For those who also want to taste some of these game-changing wines from the vineyard featured in the film, Bernie Vogel, an acclaimed wine educator, will host an exclusive gathering prior to the evening screening. Guests will enjoy a guided tasting of samples of both the Chardonnay and Cabernet from the vineyards that were victorious in this infamous matchup.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. wine tasting are $30 per person and include samples of both wines, a full glass of reception wine, light appetizers, and premium seat selection for the 7:30 p.m. screening. Advance tickets are required for the wine tasting and are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets for the movie only, without the wine tasting, are $7 for Adults and $6 for ages 25 and under, and ages 60 and over. For more information visit www.CarrollCountyArtsCouncil.org.
12 Annual Maryland Microbrewery Festival Saturday, September 30 • 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This fun-packed festival celebrates and promotes the best of Maryland’s handcrafted and distinctive microbrews. The event includes live music, crafts, and there will be a wide variety of food vendors. Union Mills Homestead and Grist Mill, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster. 410-848-2288 or www.unionmills.org.
Music to my Ears at Your Local Library
Carroll County libraries are jamming out this summer. The Westminster branch library will offer live tunes at its Lunchtime Concert Series on Aug. 4 at 12:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the all-ages show. Grab lunch from a local restaurant or brown bag it while you enjoy the music. No alcohol allowed. Call 410.386.4488 for more information.
The Mount Airy branch library will present Darla Jean and the Somethin’ or Others in concert on Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. The all-ages show promises to be a jammin’ good time with a mix of old-time country, blues, bluegrass, and a few original songs by Darla Jean and the Somethin’ or Others. You’ll hear a blend of fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, guitar, banjo, and harmonica. Call 410.386.4488 for more information.
Westminster FallFest September 21–24, Downtown Westminster
Join the festivities as Fallfest begins with our annual parade along Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster. Parade is September 21 at 7 p.m. and benefit walk/run September 21 at 6:55 p.m. Music, rides, and vendors. Thursday 6–10 p.m.; Friday 2–10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday Noon–6 p.m. at City Park, Westminster. www.westminstermd.gov.
Carroll County Restaurant Week August 13–20
Not that you necessarily need a push to get out and enjoy one of Carroll County’s amazing restaurants. But maybe you’re looking for a reason to try something new at a favorite restaurant or maybe head to a different part of town to check out a new place. Carroll County’s Restaurant Week provides the perfect opportunity to do just that – check out a new eatery or try something new at a favorite restaurant. Restaurant Week runs from August 13-20 and dozens of locally-owned restaurants participate. Participating restaurants will offer their regular menus at their regular hours, but they will also offer a fixed-price menu with meals starting at $10.17 and increasing in $5 increments. Find out which restaurants are participating and see menus at www.carrollcountyrestaurantweek.com.
