Plan on a Wine & Chocolate Weekend, a visit to the Brewer's Cup Home Brew Fest and more in the coming months.
Planning a lovely Valentine's weekend doesn't have to be difficult.
It can be as easy as picking up tickets for a couple big annual events — the Wine & Chocolate Weekend around eastern Erie County and western New York, and the Brewer's Cup Home Brew Fest at Erie's Brewerie at Union Station — happening this weekend.
1. Wine & Chocolate Weekend: Lake Erie Wine Country's 23 regional wineries will offer wine tastings, food pairings and more on Friday, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festivities for this year's event, sponsored by Niagara Chocolates, start at the host wineries: 21 Brix Winery, Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Noble Winery, Presque Isle Wine Cellars, South Shore Wine Co. and Willow Creek Winery. Limited tickets (cash only) are still available at the door of the host wineries, and are $35.24 for Friday and/or Sunday admission; $46.04 for all three days; and $21.60 for designated drivers.
2. Brewer's Cup Home Brew Fest: Sample some ales, stouts and pilsners created by local home brewers during the 12th annual festival this Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m., at The Brewerie at Union Station, 123 W. 14th St. Tickets, $25 each, are still available at Brewerie and the Beer & Pop Discount Warehouse, 901 Peninsula Drive. For more details, call 454-2200.
3. Wine on the Lake: Sample vintages from more than 30 participating wineries, shop among dozens of vendors and enjoy entertainment by Rick Magee & the Roadhouse Rockers, Mike Camp and more during two sessions on Feb. 23, 1 to 4 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m., at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. General admission tickets are $35 for the afternoon session and $40 for the evening session; VIP tickets are already sold out. For more details, visit www.wineonthelake.com.
4. Erie Micro Brew Fest: Beer lovers can sample unique ales, stouts, lagers and more from 30 breweries, and also talk with the brewers themselves, during the 13th annual WQLN Public Media event on April 6 at The Brewerie at Union Station. General admission for either session, 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., is $40 in advance or $45 at the door; VIP tickets, for a 12:15 to 4 p.m. session, are $50 in advance only; designated driver tickets are $20. For more details, visit www.wqln.org.
5. Wine & Cheese Weekend: Sponsored by Yancey's Fancy, this annual event will feature wine tastings, internationally-inspired food pairings, a booklet of recipes and more on April 12, noon to 5 p.m.; April 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and April 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Lake Erie Wine Country's 23 regional wineries. For more details and tickets, which are expected to go on sale this week, visit www.lakeeriewinecountry.org.
6. A Charming Weekend: Princesses will get a bracelet and can collect summer-themed charms at Lake Erie Wine Country's 23 regional wineries, plus enjoy some wine tastings with their princes, on May 17, noon to 5 p.m.; May 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticketholders must participate in tastings to collect charms. For more details and tickets, which are expected to go on sale in April, visit www.lakeeriewinecountry.org.