Spring kicks-off in the Atlanta area with the 3rd Annual Georgia Food + Wine Festival, presented by Georgia Grown March 22 – 24, 2024 at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. The festival offers several events with hidden values available for guests (including families and adults 21 and over). Festival Co-Founder, Tod Miller said, “It’s going to be a fantastic festival, with so many different events at a variety of price points. Most events are for adults 21 and over, with Sunday/Funday created to be totally family friendly, featuring a free Kids Zone with inflatables and family activities. In addition to doing demos and the Jernard Wells Wing Experience, Wells will also be presenting a Golden Ticket to the winner of Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge to attend the World Food Championship in Indianapolis in November for a chance at a $5,000 cash prize.
DEALS AND STEALS
Kids 12 & Under are FREE on Sunday/Funday presented by Atlanta News First & Peachtree TV. Adult tickets are only $25. Kids Zone is FREE with inflatables. Live music, courtesy of Superior Plumbing and Superior Cooling & Heating, over 20 restaurants and food trucks, shopping, TWO cooking demo stages, Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge, and more. Cash bars available for adults 21 and over. Free attendees do NOT receive free tasting tokens.
All Saturday and Sunday TICKETS include $10 in FREE Tasting Tokens (including VIP Lounge tickets).
Fired-Up, an ALL-INCLUSIVE TICKET, Friday, March 22, 7:30 – 9:30 pm ~ FREE tasting bites and beverages in a souvenir glass, whole hog pickin’ featuring Rodney Scott’s BBQ, and the Meat & Greet event with Vice Kitchen’s Nick Leahy and James Beam National Brand Ambassador, Beth Burrows. And new this year is a Charcuterie demo by 1885 Executive Chef Lauren McCormick.
Savor, Saturday, March 23, 1 – 4 pm, 20+ restaurants and artisan booths. Over 400 varieties of wine, beer, & spirits tastings with a souvenir tasting glass, live music presented by Superior Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, the Georgia Grown Member Village, Bubbles & Brew Alley, and TWO chef demo stages.
VIP Lounge, presented by Publix, Saturday, 12 – 4, and Sunday 12-3. A fully catered experience with a souvenir crystal wine glass, open bars, live music, the Bellissima Beverage Cart serving craft cocktails and Sweetwater Brewing Products, private restrooms, and early festival access. VIP ticket includes full access to the Savor general admission area.
FUN EVENTS – NOT TO MISS
Meat & Greet @Fired Up ~ a bourbon/grill pairing featuring James Beam National Brand Ambassador Beth Burrows, and Chef Nick Leahy, owner of Vice Kitchen grilling up select meat products.
The Jernard Wells Wing Experience ~ NEW this year. Chef Jernard will be cooking up his signature wings all weekend long.
Georgia Grown Chef Stage ~ Chefs from all over Georgia will be doing an assortment of cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend, highlighting Georgia Grown products. Chef line-up includes: Saturday ~ Chef Ashley Keyes, Executive Chef of C.H.O.I.C.E.S, Lauren Bolden, Owner, Pie Bar, Sunday ~ Chef Jared Hucks, Executive Chef/ Owner, The Alden, Thomas Jacobs Executive Chef, the Partridge Inn, Chef Stuart Rogers, Your 3rd Spot.
Multiple Georgia Grown Activations ~ Look for several different Georgia Grown activations throughout the festival, including the Georgia Grown Member Village.
MORE GOING ON!!
• Saturday, March 23 – Savor 1:00-4:00pm ~ Scott Thompson & Brother Mojo on the Plaza Stage
• Lance and Wes Duo performing at the Cobb Travel & Tourism Bubbles & Brews Alley
• Saturday VIP Lounge 12:00-4:00pm ~ Ollie Patterson and Atmosphere Quintet
• Sunday/Funday, March 24 12:00-5:00pm ~ Scott Thompson performing acoustic favorites on the Plaza Stage
• Sunday/Funday VIP Lounge 12:00-3:00pm ~ Ollie Patterson and Atmosphere Quintet.
• Fired Up Whole hog pickin’ featuring 2 whole hogs slow cooked by pitmasters from Rodney Scott’s BBQ
• Cobb Bubbles & Brews Alley, a showcase of Cobb County’s most popular breweries and distilleries at Savor on Saturday, March 23.
• Maker’s Mark signature cocktail trailer with a variety of samplings
• “Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge”, presented by Beam Suntory and Creative Loafing taking place from 2 – 4 pm, Sunday, March 24.
• Oyster Roast VIP Lounge, 12 – 3 pm, Sunday/Funday, Sunday, March 24, 2023; Plates of oysters, live music, the Bellissima Beverage Cart pouring craft cocktails and Sweetwater Brewing products, open bars and more.
• Food Truck Sunday ~ Food Truck line-up includes: Tiff’s Treats, Publix, 6Pack subs, The Club at Cedarcrest, and Viva Chicken
• SafePath Silent Auction, a variety of auction items, from local gift certificates to luxury travel that will be available for live bidding, auction closes on Sunday, March 24. All proceeds benefit SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Wine & Spirits Pull, a blind-pull of various wine and spirits (fantastic steals) at Savor on Saturday – starting at 1:30 pm; items usually sell-out in the first hour, so get there early. Claim check area available to hold items during festival. All proceeds benefit SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center.
Insider’s Tips:
• Arrive 30 minutes early for events – event pre-check (wristbands, ID check, receive glassware, etc.)
• Buy extra tokens early (avoid waiting in line later in the day). Stations will be located in multiple locations at the event to purchase more food tokens.
• Thousands of Free Parking spaces; no pets allowed.
• Friday & Saturday are 21+ ONLY. Individuals must present ID before entering.
• Sunday/Funday is FAMILY FRIENDLY. Kids 12 and under admitted free (free attendees do NOT receive free tasting tokens).
• Stay Hydrated – water and soft drinks are FREE at Friday and Saturday events.
The Georgia Food + Wine Festival is a culinary and beverage celebration that showcases Georgia’s celebrity chefs and beverage experts. The festival offers a wide variety of events for all tastebuds and budgets, including “Savor”, the main event on Saturday with over 400 varieties of wine, beer and spirits tastings, cooking demonstrations on the Georgia Celebrity Chef Stage and the Georgia Grown Chef/Member Stage, and 25+ restaurants and artisans from around the south. The VIP Lounge, presented by Publix, offers a fully catered experience with open bars, the Bellissima Beverage Cart pouring craft cocktails and Sweetwater Brewing products, early access, live music, and more. The festival takes place in Marietta, March 22 – 24, 2024 at Jim R. Miller Park, which is located just off I-75 and Windy Hill Road, minutes from The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park. *Schedule and talent subject to change
Please contact Missy Miller, missy@georgiafoodandwinefestival.com (770-423-1330) for additional festival information, festival photography and assets visit georgiafoodandwinefestival.com.