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News Archive for Aspen Food & Wine Festival

Q & A 05.13.09 4:21 PM

To Expand National Harbor Food & Wine Festival, Lynn Schwartz Listens to Attendees, Adds Family-Friendly Elements

Shows Inc.'s Lynn Schwartz
Photo: Courtesy of the Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor

FROM WASHINGTON The second annual Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor hits Maryland's waterfront complex June 6 and 7. Show manager Lynn Schwartz of Annapolis-based Shows Inc. is returning after producing the 2008 event, which she considered a success—despite a few problems. The festival hit its attendance target of 5,000 guests per day on the first day, but fell short on the second. This time around, Schwartz has increased the emphasis on food (with fewer alcohol vendors), developed programs for children (who weren't allowed last year), and changed the layout to boost attendance. With the festival just weeks away—and final preparations in high gear—we spoke to Schwartz about these and other changes.

What's planned to make this year better for families?
One of our lessons learned from last year, our debut year, was that some attendees want to bring their children to the festival. People voiced their complaints as it is, after all, an outdoor weekend event. I had to listen to our audience. To that end, we have added hands-on cooking classes for children, face painters, a balloon-animal maker, and the Maryland-Delaware Watermelon Association’s Watermelon Queen will host a watermelon seed spitting contest. The National Peanut Board with mascot Buddy McNutty will teach kids fun tasty ways to incorporate more healthy produce options into their diet and creatively explore, through drawing, their favorite ways to put that energy to work. Pirate cruises on the Potomac River are available at an extra charge. MORE >>

National Harbor, Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor, Food & Wine Magazine, Aspen Food & Wine Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival