A Mountain of Tastes

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: August 2024

They come from far away and nearby, they are young and not-so-young, visitors and locals alike. They are bankers, lawyers, craftsman, tradesmen, chefs, artisans and laborers.

They’ve come together to participate in the eighth annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival, a grand celebration of culinary arts and fine wine, happening from November 7–10.

Spilling across the picturesque mountain town of Highlands, the festival’s four signature events move from iconic locations – the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts, Kelsey-Hutchinson Park and Main Street.

The festival will kick off with the Grand Tasting on Thursday, November 7 at the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts. Where dedicated oenophiles and casual sippers alike can indulge in hundreds of wines sample small tastes from celebrated local and visiting. Adding to all the fun is a blend of bluegrass music from Virginia’s Love Canon band. (This event is sold out.)

On Friday, November 8, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park transforms into a food truck fair for the popular Truckin’ event. Dozens of vendors will populate the lawn while attendees munch on delicious bites from innovative food trucks, sip on craft cocktails and stroll down the “Highway of Ale” to taste samples from numerous craft breweries. Highlands Chefs Massimiliano Proietti from Paoletti’s and Jacky Cabler of the Old Edwards Club will be on hand to enhance the festivities, accompanied by the music of the Wilder Woods band with Needtobreathe frontman Bear Rinehart, who crafts soulful pop with an introspective folk tone and some R& B flair. Also performing is Texas-born soul singer/songwriter and guitarist and country singer Alex Lambert.

Highlands Main Street is home to the Main Event on Saturday afternoon, November 9. It’s where it’s all happening as food and wine lovers gather to slurp oysters and savor small plates by celebrated chefs. Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass enlivens with classic American style tunes along with the innovative flat-picking guitarist Larry Keel and Appalachian singer/songwriter Jon Stickley. (This is also sold out!)

A Shot at Redemption, the culminating final get-together on Sunday afternoon, November 10 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park affords an opportunity for last sips and farewells. It’s the festival’s take on Sunday brunch; think of it as going to church Highlands Food & Wine style.

Wrap up the festival experience with tastes of delicacies from Highlands’ chefs Massimiliano Prioietti of Paoletti’s and Jason Tardo of Half-Mile Farm at Old Edwards (stay tuned for more to come). Enjoy the Bloody Mary Bar hosted by Tito’s Vodka and let your soul be stirred by the voice of Lee Fields. Hailed by Rolling Stone for his classic American soul sound, Lee Fields is arguably the greatest pure soul singer alive. In an age when the shelf life of an artist largely depends on posturing and trends, he has proven to be an unassailable force of nature with five decades plus career that spans more than 20 albums over 40 singles. Opening for Field is retro-soul artist Abraham Alexander, known for his mellow mix of rustic folk and soul and ‘beguiling voice which offers both honey and grit.”