FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — A big weekend in Fredericksburg is underway — the annual Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival. The event draws thousands of people to the area to check out dozens of local wineries, while eating some great food, all in one spot.
Wineries and Fredericksburg go hand-in-hand, and this nearly week-long event is one of the premier events for the area.
Crews have been working around the clock in Marktplatz Park in the heart of downtown for Saturday’s Grand Tasting event. It features local wineries, distilleries, plenty of live music and chef-prepared bites.
“Our agricultural, including the wineries, they are about 60 percent of our gross domestic product. Forty percent is tourism,” explained Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Mikula. “Sixty percent of our employees are in the tourism industry, including the wineries and all of that, so it’s a great symbiotic relationship between the two.”
Mikula said the economy is about $2.2 billion a year in Gillespie County, 60% of which is agriculturally driven by wineries.
The Grand Tasting runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Marktplatz, 126 W. Main St. Tickets are still available and begin at around $150. While VIP tickets are sold out, general admission can be purchased online.
Tickets include unlimited food and beverage tastings.
Foundation works to give back to local schools
One of the many events planned for the weekend is Friday’s Texas Wine Auction Barrel Auction. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
The foundation said one thing not spoken about enough in the industry is the mental health toll it can take on its workers, especially those who work out in the vineyards. Many times these employees are working part-time and might not have access to proper health care, Texas Wine Auction Foundation co-founder Valerie Elkins said.
Friday’s fundraiser by William Chris Vineyards wants to bring that issue to the forefront. It’s helping do that by raising money for school counselors in Fredericksburg schools.
“Fredericksburg feels like a wealthy community, but the school system actually shows it is not as wealthy as you might think,” Elkins said. “We have statistics that show over 300 youth elected to see the mental health counselors in schools in 2024.”
The foundation hopes to raise $72,000 to continue funding for the counselors.
The event is happening at Slate Theory Winery at 101915 US-290, Fredericksburg.
“Guests will enjoy barrel tastings of premium Texas wines and the opportunity to bid on rare and exclusive lots, all while connecting with winemakers and fellow philanthropists in one of the most unique settings in the Texas Hill Country,” the website explained.
Ticket includes a complimentary wine glass, sampling of over 25 Texas premium wineries, bites and access to exclusive wine lots. Tickets may be purchased online.
For a complete schedule of weekend events, check out the festival’s official website. The festival runs through Sunday.
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