Four Days of Fabulous

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: October 2024

This is the eighth year for the Highlands Food & Wine Festival, held from November 7-10.

For four days, thousands of visitors from throughout the country throng the streets, sampling food and wine tastings from renowned chefs and vintners.

And because as the organizers tell us, “Nothing goes better with a great bite and delicious gulp than sublime times,” there is a torrent of great music as the weekend brings together an impressive roster of talent in a range of genres from soul to country to gospel and rock.

Performing at The Grand Tasting are Love Canon; on stage at Truckin’ are Wilder Woods and Alex Lambert; Greensky Bluegrass and Larry Keel & John Stickley play the Main Event, and Lee Fields and Abraham Alexander take the stage at Sunday’s A Shot at Redemption.

While tickets to The Main Event and The Grand Tasting sold out on the first day they went on sale, you can still score admission to these events while enjoying premium access to all 4 events by purchasing VIP tickets. Among the many perks of the VIP ticket are fast lane entry at all events, a VIP gift bag with special bling from sponsors, dedicated bars and entry to the VIP areas which prime stage viewing and exclusive food and beverage offerings.

Happily, tickets remain to two popular events – Truckin’ and A Shot at Redemption Brunch. Happening on Friday, November 8, Truckin’ is one of the most popular happenings of the festival, it’s an outdoor celebration with an extravaganza of libations and a feast of exciting fare from innovative food trucks and restaurants.

There’s a host of beer, wine and cocktails, including access to the “Highway to Ale” featuring tastings from numerous craft breweries. Nashville’s Kathleen Sharpe of All or Nothing Bagels and local chefs Massimiliano Proietti of Paoletti’s and Jacky Cabler of the Old Edwards Club are among the anticipated assemblage of more than a dozen culinarians offering tantalizing tastes.

Billed as “church for food and wine lovers,” A Shot at Redemption on Sunday, November 10 is the penultimate brunch.

Included is the festival’s famous Tito’s Bloody Mary bar, and flavorful bites from acclaimed regional chefs.

Attendees can expect sumptuous treats from local chefs Massimiliano Proietti, Paoletti’s, Highlands; the wizard of world-class Northern Italian cuisine and Jason Tardo of Half Mile Farm, long celebrated for his reverence for local and seasonal cooking.

Chef Derick Wade of The Darling Oyster Bar will travel from Charleston serving up what has been deemed his “over the top treats.”

Offering a taste of Greenville is Curean, known for their Mediterranean cuisine along with “thoughtfully crafted contemporary, greasy spoon classics” presented by chef Luke Owens of Native Fine Diner, and the ultimate farm-to-table tastes prepared by chef Shawn Kelly of Fork and Plough. Athens, Georgia,powerhouse chef Peter Dale will showcase his healthy comfort food, while celebrated Nashville chef Matt Bolus of 404 Kitchen shows off his European twinged Southern cooking and Kathleen Sharpe is set to redefine your expectations of a perfect bagel.

If this captures your fancy, act quickly – highlandsfoodandwine.com.