PEACH WEEKENDER

Festivals beckon beer, wine lovers

2/27/2014

Beer lovers, your time has come. The Glass City Beer Fest will take over the Lucas County Recreation Center from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. Serving suds from 45 micro-breweries, the fest will feature 224 different beers. Breweries include Great Black Swamp, Cellar Rats, Indigo Imp, Crispin Cider, Rockmill, Goose Island, Maumee Bay, and Great Lakes Brewing and many more. General admission tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and include 12 taste tickets good for three-ounce samples of any of the brews. VIP admission is $50 in advance and $55 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders, who will also enjoy a special tasting and 18 taste tickets. Additional taste tickets will be available for purchase.

All proceeds will support the Arc of Lucas County and the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation. Advance admission tickets are available at The Andersons' Toledo area stores. Guests must be age 21 or older to attend. Information: glasscitybeerfest.com.

 

● If beer isn't your thing, try out some regional vino at the Glass City Wine Festival Sunday at SeaGate Convention Centre. Guests can also sample gourmet cheese and fare from local restaurants and shop from local craft businesses. The daytime session runs from 1 to 4 p.m., and the evening session from 6 to 9 p.m. VIP ticket holders will be admitted one hour early. Tickets range from $25 to $40 and are sold out online but may still be available at Toledo area First Federal Bank locations and New-Bath and Kitchen. Information: glasscitywinefestival.com.

 

● The Toledo Zoo's Nairobi Pavilion will be transformed into a magical fairy garden for the zoo's Fairytales, Flowers, and Fables event. Themed floral displays will bring to life popular fairy tales. The displays are sponsored by area businesses, service agencies, and colleges. Family activities are planned from 5 to 8 tonight in the pavilion and include an evening dinner, live animal demos, terrarium building, and exploring the world of gardens and the creatures that live there. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

A princess tea party will be 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Mad Hatter party rooms behind the carousel. The tea is $30 per person for members and $35 for non-members. A wine tasting, 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, is $40 for members, $45 for non-members, and includes a variety of wines and cuisine. Other planned events include cooking demonstrations, puppet shows, and crafts. The displays open today and will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday. Zoo admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and children under age 12. Children age 2 and younger are admitted free. For a complete schedule of events, visit toledozoo.org.