A rendering of the National Harbor waterfront
Rendering: Courtesy of the Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor
This weekend, Maryland's new 300-acre National Harbor development is hosting a coming-out party of sorts, with its debut Food & Wine Festival running Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m.
Show manager Lynn Schwartz started working on the event 10 months ago. "A debut festival always comes with its challenges, because nothing has been done on the site before," she said. "In terms of vendors, we sold out our exhibitors space, with a total of 105 exhibitors, so they'll be moving us to another larger site next year."
Set up in a series of tents (provided by Party Perfect) along the waterfront, the festival is expecting 10,000 to 12,000 visitors throughout the weekend. The $65 general-admission price includes 10 food and 10 drink tickets and access to exhibitors, including local spots Agraria and Zengo, national brands like Stella Artois (with its own beer garden) and Chipotle, and wineries such as Gnarly Head and Blackstone from California. KitchenAid is also sponsoring a culinary stage for demonstrations, which will include chefs Michel Richard of D.C.'s Citronelle and David Guas of Damgoodsweet Consulting Group.Schwartz secured 65 volunteers, who all received training in customer service and sanitary issues. Signature Event Rentals has erected a 20- by 40-foot tented and refrigerated prep kitchen for the participating chefs.
In terms of the festival's future, Schwartz is already looking to next year. "On May 19, Monday morning, we start all over again."
Show manager Lynn Schwartz started working on the event 10 months ago. "A debut festival always comes with its challenges, because nothing has been done on the site before," she said. "In terms of vendors, we sold out our exhibitors space, with a total of 105 exhibitors, so they'll be moving us to another larger site next year."
Set up in a series of tents (provided by Party Perfect) along the waterfront, the festival is expecting 10,000 to 12,000 visitors throughout the weekend. The $65 general-admission price includes 10 food and 10 drink tickets and access to exhibitors, including local spots Agraria and Zengo, national brands like Stella Artois (with its own beer garden) and Chipotle, and wineries such as Gnarly Head and Blackstone from California. KitchenAid is also sponsoring a culinary stage for demonstrations, which will include chefs Michel Richard of D.C.'s Citronelle and David Guas of Damgoodsweet Consulting Group.Schwartz secured 65 volunteers, who all received training in customer service and sanitary issues. Signature Event Rentals has erected a 20- by 40-foot tented and refrigerated prep kitchen for the participating chefs.
In terms of the festival's future, Schwartz is already looking to next year. "On May 19, Monday morning, we start all over again."
