Put on the connoisseur hat, because it’s almost time for the 12th annual Pecan, Wine and Antique Festival in downtown Camp Verde, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17 through 19.
It’s going to be bigger than ever, said Steve Goetting with Verde Entertainments, the group behind the festival for the past few years.
“We’re expanding the size of the wine tent to almost double in size,” Goetting said. “There’s also going to be a lot more art.”
Local restaurants and an art gallery will be offering specials and deals.
Admission is $12.50 and includes five tasting tickets and a commemorative wine glass, perfect for sampling some of the best wine local and regional wineries have to offer.
Goetting said the festival is teaming up with Fort Verde State Historic Park this year to offer a joint $15 ticket that allows visitors to move back and forth between the festival and the fort, where there will be plenty to see.
The fort is hosting a pecan pie contest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed up at 2 p.m. with a vintage 19th century-rules baseball game between the Glendale Gophers and Fort Verde’s own Excelsiors.
Historical re-enactors representing the famed Buffalo Soldiers will also be on the fort grounds to relate the experiences of those black soldiers who were sent out West back when it was far wilder.
Things kick off at the festival at noon Friday, with live music on three stages throughout the area, the town gym — where many antique dealers will be set up as well, the wine tent and an additional outside stage.
Saturday morning begins with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Town Hall kitchen.
The Camp Verde Lions Club is sponsoring a car show on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while out at Alcantara Vineyards, a vine pruning event will be held at 3 p.m. with free clippings available to take home.
In addition to all the wine, it’s important not to forget about the pecans. Goetting said people who would like their pecans judged should have them at Town Hall no later than Wednesday, Feb. 15.
There will also be plenty of food vendors and merchants of all sorts of wares throughout the three-day event.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.pecanandwine
festival.com.
