A Festive Occasion

A Festive Occasion

Illinois' growing number of winemakers and a select group of Illinois artisans combine to promote the state's products in a fun-filled fashion.

STORY AND PHOTOS
BY LIZ PENSONEAU

Do you enjoy weekend adventure? If so, plan to attend the third annual Illinois Wine and Art Festival at Rend Lake's Southern Illinois Artisans Shop on Sept. 28 and 29. The manicured grounds of the artisans shop will come alive with activity as visitors mingle with merchants and live music fills the air.

It's a time when winemakers from throughout the state assemble to provide tastes of their wines, and various artisans set up booths to display their skillfully crafted wares.

Wineries

This year's event will offer an opportunity to taste the wine from 18 Illinois wineries. There will be a $10 fee for 25 tasting tickets, or 10 tickets can be purchased for $5. Last year, many of the tasting areas were staffed by the owners of the wineries, affording visitors an opportunity to meet the owners as well as learn about their products.

Artisans

Sounds from a blacksmith's shop blended with festive music as visitors arrived at last year's festival. Mark and Mindy Gardner, Farmer City blacksmiths and owners of Flood Plain Forge, demonstrated their craft near the ticket table. Their metal oak leaves were among the most popular items on exhibit.

Other artisans, such as Dominic Angarano of Wood River, who does wood burning and carving of Native American subjects on gourds, exhibited their products in tents scattered about the grounds. Santas, baskets, artwork and elegantly crafted items

Vendors prpare for the crowd at the opening of the last year's Illinois Wine and Art Festival.(Insert) Veronica McGrath(I) and Karen Kodatt of Chicago look over the selection of wine at the Von Jakob Vineyard Ltd. table. Alicia Jacobs was on hand to assist the Customers

10 OutdoorIllinois

Dominic Angarano of Wood River specializes in gourd art. He spent 12 days Grafting this S450 original signed image of Crazy Horse, a famous Native American. Angarano's art can be purchased at the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop.

garnered the attention of people passing from winery to winery, tickets in hand, preparing to judge each wine on its own merit.

More than 50 members of the Illinois Artisans Program will show and sell their art at this year's event.

Entertainment

On Saturday at 11 a.m., "Bob Pina's Piano" will take the stage, followed by "St. Stephens Blues" at 2 p.m. and "Four on the Floor," a well-known oldies band, at 5 p.m. Sunday's lineup includes the blues and classic rock band, "IC Blue" at 1 p.m., followed by a favorite oldies rock band, "The Egyptian Combo" at 4 p.m.

Mark Gardner's blacksmith skills and decorative and functional ironwork products attracted plenty of attention, especially the wide selection of hand-crafted leaves.

The festival is made possible by Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center, Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, the Rend Lake Conservancy District and the Franklin County Tourism Bureau. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 28 and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 29. There is no admission charge, although parking donations will be accepted.

Call 1-800-792-8266 or (618) 629-2220 for more information.

The Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center is located 6 miles north of Benton on Interstate 57 Take Exit 77 at Rend Lake.

Teri and Dale Milligan operate Spring Pond Vineyard and Winery at Benton. Their best sellers are Autumn Harvest semi-sweet vidal and Chambourcin, a dry red wine. Baskets crafted by Kay Wiggins (right) of McLeansboro are sold at all Illinois state-operated artisans shops.