Celebrity chefs, farmers, local artisans and Georgia's best bars and restaurants are once again bringing the flavor to Marietta for the third year in a row. Sample the best of Georgia's culinary landscape at the Georgia Food & Wine Festival from March 21 to 24. Historically, Marietta's Jim R. Miller Park has seen upwards of 10,000 guests, hundreds of tastings, 15 to 20 restaurants, two demo stages bringing two to four celebrity chefs daily, and a mass of food trucks on its grounds each year. This year will be no different.
"We are excited to bring a quality food and beverage experience that will provide exposure, support, and success to Georgia-based businesses in a fun, interactive environment, all while raising money for a great cause!" says Missy Miller, marketing specialist.
The festivities will kick off on Thursday with some local love during "Best of Cobb," a showcase of Cobb County's very best businesses hosted by Cobb Life Magazine and the Marietta Daily Journal. Friday is a celebration of meats as some of the state's best pitmasters and chefs roast, smoke and grill up mouthwatering cuts from 7:30 to 9:30 during "Fired Up." Come for the food, but stay for the live music and all-inclusive beer, wine and spirit tastings. This is an all-inclusive ticket, with all food and beverage tastings included in the ticket price.
The main event takes place on Saturday. If you attend any part of the weekend, make "Savor" the day you come. In perhaps the most indulgent afternoon of the year, chefs, restaurants and beverage experts across Georgia line the streets, handing out some of the best bites and sips in the State. For true culinary aficionados, the VIP lounge boasts a fully catered menu, souvenir glassware, live music and an open bar. The weekend concludes on "Sunday/Funday" with family-friendly attractions like food trucks and the Kids Zone offering something for everyone.
Perhaps the greatest testament of the event's success is the roster of prestigious chefs, bartenders and connoisseurs hosting demonstrations and vendor tents. Attendees will be excited to learn Rodney Scott, barbecue master, is returning with a whole hog pickin' during Friday night's event. Celebrity chef and host of CLEO TV's "New Soul Kitchen," Chef Jernard Wells, will appear as the official host and brand ambassador around the festival all weekend as well.
"It allows me to showcase my passion for food, connect with like-minded individuals in the industry and patrons, and promote the festival's gastronomic delights," explains Chef Jernard. "It's a chance to celebrate Georgia's culinary excellence and contribute to the vibrant food culture in a meaningful way."
A host of noteworthy partners are what’s made another year of this crowd-drawing event possible. The Safepath Children’s Advocacy Center will serve as the event’s charitable partner, WANF as the official TV media partner and Audi Marietta as the official car. Makers Mark and Beam Black have also been selected as master spirits and will be bringing their Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge to the event on Sunday with a 1,500-dollar cash prize.
Georgia Grown, a community of farmers, producers and local sellers dedicated to supporting Georgia agriculture, is another big name that promises to pop up throughout the weekend. As the event's presenting sponsor, attendees can visit the Georgia Grown Member Village or the Georgia Grown Culinary Demo Stage anytime. The Member Village offers shopping for locally sourced ingredients and artisan-made goods, while the demo stage will host demonstrations from Georgia Grown chefs.
The organization's localized approach to food is a pillar in Georgia's culinary scene, after all.
As Chef Jernard puts it, "Our food scene embraces farm-to-table concepts, highlighting locally sourced ingredients."
Georgia is in the name for a reason. The Georgia Food & Wine Festival is the single best place to find Georgia Grown, Georgia-made and Georgia-served flavors all in one spot. Don't miss it.
georgiafoodandwinefestival.com
"It's a chance to celebrate Georgia's culinary excellence and contribute to the vibrant food culture in a meaningful way." - Celebrity Chef Jernard Wells