Taking Place in Midtown Atlanta Next Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3, 2018
The 8th annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival returns to Midtown next weekend, bringing together more than 180 chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, and pit-masters from Texas to the D.C. to celebrate in true Southern fashion. In order to get the most out of the program-loaded and flavor-packed weekend, below is a quick guide to all-things-AF&WF.
The weekend offers three distinct activities, designed to bring the Festival-goer closer to knowledge, delight, and a full belly:
Learning Experiences: This year’s Festival is jammed packed with learning experiences, which all take place at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown. The Festival’s Learning Experiences create the opportunity to relish in specific topics and the Masterclasses delve even deeper into Southern topics. The following color system will be in place Festival weekend to help guests attend classes that are still available. Please pay attention to the flags stationed outside each classroom to know if the class is at capacity or has open seats:
Red – When a red flag is positioned outside a classroom, that class is sold out and cannot seat anymore guests.
Yellow – When a yellow flag is positioned outside a classroom, that class is almost at capacity and can potentially fit a few more guests.
Green – When a green flag is positioned outside a classroom, that class has available seating. Feel free to join in on the fun!
Tasting Tents – Returning to Piedmont Park’s Greensward Promenade area, the Tasting Tent ticket is unlike any other festival offering - giving guests access to an all-you-can-eat-drink-and-indulge experience from the region’s top chefs and purveyors. The Greensward Promenade is an ideal backdrop to the delicious themes, live music and interactive experiences available throughout the Tasting Tents. The 2018 Tasting Tents are scheduled in the evening this year from 7:30 – 10:30 pm Friday, 6:00 – 9:00 pm Saturday, and 1:30 – 4:30 pm Sunday.
Dinners & Events – Themed parties, intimate chef dinners, and Sunday brunches make up the rest of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival weekend. Educational and delicious, the Festival’s dinners and events continue to take guests deep into the food and drink traditions of the South.
GENERAL EVENT SCHEDULE: Thursday, May 31: Entrepreneurs Program, Edible Ends, Plate Sessions, and Destination Delicious Friday, June 1: House Party, Learning Experiences, Masterclasses, Tasting Tents, Evening Dinners & Events Saturday, June 2: Learning Experiences, Masterclasses, Tasting Tents, Evening Dinners & Events Sunday, June 3: Brew-zy Sunday Brunch and Tasting Tents
WELCOME CENTER: The Welcome Center is located at 1075 Peachtree Street. Guests who purchase Day or weekend passes must pick up their credentials at the Festival Welcome Center beginning Thursday, May 31. Guests who purchase Tasting Tent tickets may also bring their printed Xorbia ticket directly to the Tasting Tents. Guests who purchase tickets to a Dinner or Event will be on the “will call” list at the event venue. A photo ID is required to pick up tickets.
Welcome Center Hours: Thursday, May 31: 11:30am – 7:30pm Friday, June 1: 11:30am – 7:30pm Saturday, June 2: 9:00am – 6:00pm Sunday, June 3: 11:00am – 2:00pm
To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. Tickets may also be purchased on-site at the Welcome Center beginning Thursday, May 31 (if available). Below are the tickets currently available:
Friday Day Pass
Saturday Day Pass (limited)
Friday or Sunday Tasting Tents
2-Day Pass (Friday + Saturday)
Weekend Pass (Thursday – Sunday)
Select Dinners and Evening Events
Connoisseur Pass
21 AND OVER EVENT: Guests must be 21-years or older to enter an AF&WF event. Children, even the Founders’ children, are not allowed. Absolutely no exceptions.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM & MAP: You can pick up a Festival Program at the Welcome Center, along with a copy of the Map. There is also a downloadable site map located at www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com/attendee-information.
ATTIRE: There is no enforced dress code; however, we do ask you to dress in keeping with the nature of the event. Shorts and t-shirts are not considered appropriate attire for evening events. Please also note that some events such as the Tasting Tents are outdoors. Please check the weather and dress appropriately. Events not taking place at the Loews Hotel are planned to be within walking distance. Please wear shoes you are comfortable walking in and for grassy areas.
CREDENTIALS: Guests are required to wear their credentials and/or event wristbands. Credentials must be picked up at the Welcome Center and will not be replaced if lost or stolen.
HANDICAP ACCESS: The Festival team has worked to provide an easy and enjoyable experience for every patron. Handicap parking is available in surrounding pay and private lots at the Festival site. Elevators are located in the Loews Hotel for easy accessibility to the 14th Floor.
HYDRATION STATIONS: Water stations will be set up throughout the Festival Tasting Tents. Outside water, drinks and food are not permitted inside the Tasting Tents.
ITEMS ALLOWED: Small handbags are permitted but will be subject to search upon entry to Festival events and classes. Non-professional recording, point and shoot photography equipment are allowed.
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED: For the convenience and safety of all Festival guests, the following items are not permitted – chairs, musical instruments, laser pointers, walkie-talkies, coolers, grills, picnic baskets, outside food and drink, professional camera equipment and recording devices, cameras with detachable lenses or video capabilities, roller skates/blades, bikes, scooters, skateboards, pets, weapons of any kind, fireworks or explosives of any kind, illegal or illicit substances of any kind (paraphernalia), bags larger than 16" x 16" x 8" (permitted bags subject to search), glass containers, metal aerosol cans including sunscreen, carts, tents, unauthorized/unlicensed vendors or unauthorized solicitations, handbills, sampling, giveaways etc. Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the Festival due to the Fulton County and Atlanta City ordinances.
NEIGHBORS: We love our Festival neighbors. We are moving in for the weekend and want them to feel the same about us. PLEASE be respectful of them and their property at all times during the Festival.
PARKING: Parking is available throughout Midtown with special rates at the following locations:
10 Tenth Street (10th & West Peachtree Street). Enter off West Peachtree.
11th & Juniper Street. Enter off 11th Street.
Loews Atlanta Hotel Self-Parking (11th & Peachtree Street). Enter off 11th Street.
Guests are also strongly encouraged to take MARTA or a rideshare service to the Festival. The nearest MARTA stations are Midtown and Arts Center. Please visit www.itsmarta.com to plan your trip. If using a rideshare service, please instruct drivers to drop-off and pick-up at the Monroe Entrance of Piedmont Park.
PETS: We love pets! However, we ask you to leave your pets at home. This is not only for the convenience of our patrons, but also for the well-being of your pets.
PHOTOGRAPHY & FESTIVAL VIDEO: The Festival will have official still photography and video crews on site all weekend long. Should you need any type of photography, please do let us know at media check-in. We will do our best to accommodate all requests in a timely fashion.
SMOKING: Smoking onsite is NOT permitted at the Loews Hotel, Tasting Tents or any of the Festival’s Dinner and Events.
SOCIAL MEDIA: The Festival is excited and proud of the active following it has through social media outlets. Our main community will engage through the following portals:
Festival website: www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/atlfoodandwine
Twitter: www.twitter.com/atlfoodandwine
Hashtag: #AFWF18 and #KnowTheSouth
WEATHER: The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a rain or shine event.
About Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Launched in 2010, by Atlanta entrepreneurs Dominique Love and Elizabeth Feichter, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a four-day culinary experience dedicated to shining an international spotlight on the rich food and beverage traditions of the South from Texas to the District of Columbia. With an all-female Advisory Council of 60 award-winning talent from 13 Southern states and the District of Columbia, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is one-part conference and one-part party, offering carefully-crafted programs and events to entertain and educate consumers about Southern food and drink. The Festival also celebrates the flavors of other Southern regions around the globe including Southern Europe, South Africa, South America, Southern Hemisphere (Australia and New Zealand) and South-of-the-Border for Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Caribbean. The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a member of the IWSC Group North America’s portfolio of events. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival returns to Midtown Atlanta Thursday, May 31 – Sunday, June 3, 2018. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. Follow Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Facebook, Instagram,and Twitter. #KnowTheSouth #AFWF18
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