An anticipated tasting event in the largest grape growing region East of the Rockies is coming to Chautauqua County.

The 18th Annual America’s Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival will be taking over the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds from Aug. 1 to 3.

The two-and-a-half-day event showcases the best of New York and Pennsylvania wineries, agricultural producers, cideries, distilleries, breweries, and meaderies.

The event also features local artisans, specialty food vendors, interactive food demonstrations, dry and RV camping, and live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Festival ticket holders receive a souvenir glass to enjoy tasting various alcohol hand crafted brews, wines, meads, and spirits from over 40 craft beverage producers from the Twin Tiers region.

In addition, there will be a large selection of freshly prepared meals, packaged foods, a unique twist to some non-alcoholic drinks, desserts, shopping from local artisans, and more!

All ticket holders and campers are welcome to attend the Friday, Aug.1 kick-off party with a lively parrot head bash to ring in the festivities for the weekend with music by the band Pirate Dreams.

Saturday and Sunday the festival is in full swing with all vendors open and the live entertainment continues all weekend long with Midnight Recovery and closing out the night is

West of the Mark playing for the crowd on Saturday. On Sunday, Black Widow performs to close out the festival.

Food demonstrations hosted by professional culinary arts instructor and global cuisine specialist, Chef Krista Van Wagner run throughout the weekend, with four demos on Saturday and three on Sunday.

These culinary exhibitions include learning how to make your own fresh mozzarella cheese, peach caprese salad with mint, pistachios, and local honey, healthy breakfast smoothies, and zucchini pillows

stuffed with ricotta, asiago, and parmesan. Level five Sommelier, Donna Schlosser Long will also be using wines from local vendors for pairings and ideas for your next gathering.

Attendees can also catch the innovative creativity of the dynamic local duo Joel and Kate from Mack’s Chainsaw Art while they perform unique chainsaw carvings all day during both weekend days of the festival, from noon to 6 p.m.

Residents can purchase individual tickets for one-day or two-day admittance to the entire festival.

For more than a group of four, you can now purchase group tickets at a special discounted rate only until July 31.

Visit www.agcfestival.com or call 1-800-965-4834 for all the festival details and to purchase tickets.

You can also call Merritt Estate Winery at 716-965-4800, to order tickets to pick up at the winery located at 2264 King Rd. in Forestville, NY.