Long a celebration of cheese, the yearly fall festival in Watonga has expanded to include a natural pairing - wine.
The Watonga Cheese and Wine Festival will be Oct. 11 and 12.
The newly-renamed event will host the first statewide wine competition.
The event has the support of the Oklahoma Grape Industry Council (OGIC), an organization made up of members from professional wineries and vineyards throughout Oklahoma.
“Over the years, Oklahoma wine has grown from a few small wineries, into a blossoming industry and we are thrilled to celebrate that growth with the first statewide competition,” event coordinator Andy Barrett said.
Wines entered in the competition will be judged by class and division. The top entries will be awarded medals, and Best in Show will merit a trophy. This year’s festival will also feature a People’s Pairing wine competition in which the general public can vote for its favorite wine.
The two-day festival features live entertainment, crafts, an art show, and a wide-range of cheese-related activities, including tastings and cooking contests throughout the downtown area.
The festival will once again highlight a downtown parade and family friendly events that have made it a popular destination for 37 years.
This year, the stages will feature musical acts including Chad Slagle and Yesterday’s Wine band, Tulsa/Nashville recording artist Kinsey Sadler, local artists Katie Bellew and Brandon Johnson, and Buck Goucher.
The Watonga Cheese and Wine Festival was founded in 1976 to showcase the northwest Oklahoma town’s cheese industry.
The 2013 Watonga Cheese and Wine Festival will be held 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 11-12 on Main Street and at the Watonga Armory, located at Leach and Main in downtown Watonga.
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