New Wrightsville Beach food fest in the works
July 25, 2012By Liz Biro
Autumn’s inaugural Taste of Wrightsville Beach food and drink festival will showcase the town’s many restaurants while boosting fall tourism there, organizers say.
Small as it is, the shoreline town hosts more than a dozen places to eat and neighbors many others, any of which might show up for the 4-7 p.m. Oct. 27 event at the Robert’s Grocery parking lot in downtown Wrightsville Beach.
Ticket-holders roving the festival’s tasting stations will cast votes for a People’s Choice Award, Taste of Wrightsville Beach planner Lisa Weeks said. Professional judges will rate dishes, too, with honors going to the best.
Particulars and per-person costs remain under consideration, but two prices levels are possible: one for a specific number of tastings, and the other for tastings combined with a chance dine on steamed oysters, Weeks said.
Weeks, president of the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation, is working with John Andrews, owner of Wrightsville Beach’s South Beach Grill. The foundation, Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce and Wrightsville Beach Merchants Association are sponsoring the event.
Andrews is recruiting restaurants, Weeks said.
“This is kind of a PSA to say ‘contact us if you’re interested.’”
Weeks said she and Andrews started imagining the festival about two years ago. Last spring’s Fire on the Dock professional chef competition at Wrightsville Beach’s Shell Island Resort motivated them to act. Cape Fear-area chefs who competed in Fire on the Dock’s bracket-style tournament attracted hundreds of diners over the contest’s 15 weeks.
Taste of Wrightsville Beach proceeds would benefit the Wrightsville Beach Beautification Program.
Interested restaurateurs and drink vendors can call Andrews at 620-3054 or email him at southbeachgrill@hotmail.com. For sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, call Weeks at 262-5998 or email wbseahorse@yahoo.com.
For updates about the event, check Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation’s website or the organization’s Facebook page.
